It makes sense to convert your home into a more energy efficient place. Not only does it lower utility bills, but also aids in protecting the environment in many different ways – the most obvious of which is cutting down on your dependency of fossil fuels.
However, according to an article in the British Medical Journal it may also be welcoming dangerous pollutants into your home. More specifically, as improvements are made to modern residences to decrease air flow and air exchange rates, the potential risk and exposure to indoor pollutants increases – making your residence susceptible to radon gas and other contaminants.
Energy Efficient Homes are Highly Susceptible to Radon Gas and Indoor Air Pollutants
Image by StockMonkeys.com
Since radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, it’s an extremely big deal. About 20,000 Americans die every year due to radon related lung cancer. More than 3,000 Canadian deaths can be traced back to the deadly gas, as well as 9% of all cancer deaths in Europe. Needless to say, the problem is a lot more substantial than most people realize. The unfortunate part about it is that it can be easily prevented.
In a paper titled, “Home energy efficiency and radon related risk of lung cancer: modelling study” researchers discuss the dangers associated with energy efficient measures that alter indoor and outdoor air exchange rates. For instance, a project may be “good for energy efficiency, indoor temperatures in winter, and protection against outdoor pollutants, it has the potential to increase concentrations of pollutants arising from sources inside or underneath the home.”
The author of the paper, James Milner – along with his co-authors – further estimates that thanks to the rise of energy efficient projects the trend could also lead to an increase in the average indoor radon concentration – up to 56.5%. In other words, if you have an energy efficient home that is air-tight it may be highly susceptible to radon gas.
More Susceptible to Radon Gas? Install a Ventilation or Mitigation System
If your home is more susceptible to radon gas, there are workarounds. One solution to this problem is to install a radon mitigation system or as the paper’s authors refer to it, a “purpose-provided ventilation.” It would reduce the energy efficiency rating of the residence, also reducing savings from such improvements – but it’s well worth the cost.
Radon has no short term symptoms, and neither does lung cancer. In fact, most patients diagnosed with lung cancer did not show symptoms until after the disease had progressed beyond a curable state. It doesn’t take a genius to point out that the quality of life for those with lung cancer is not desirable.
We highly recommend testing your home for the presence of radon at least twice a year, once in the summer and again in the winter. In addition, you should always retest your home after any significant changes are made such as a renovation – or in this case, when boosting a home’s energy efficiency rating.
You can either hire a professional, or do it yourself. The fact of the matter is that a simple $30 – $50 test can save the lives of your entire family.
Via: Scientific American
