Recently, we revealed that certain areas are more susceptible to radon exposure than others. This can primarily be attributed to the geological makeup of an area, because radon gas can seep up into homes and other structures from the soil. It is released as various elements undergo radioactive decay, elements which can exist in the soil.
Image by Brian (Hobolens)
Areas With the Highest Levels of Radon
In the United States, Kentucky is known to have the highest levels of radon. It is so evident, that the state is actually referred to as the “triple crown of lung cancer.” Of course, it earned the title because it also has the country’s highest rates in terms of smoking and secondhand tobacco smoke.
In Canada, it turns out that New Brunswick has the highest levels of radon while Manitoba has the second highest. More than 23% of Manitoba homes were found to have radon concentrations above the recommended limit. In Canada, the highest recommended limit is 200 becquerels – clearly they use a different unit of measurement than the US.
According to the World Health Organization, the risk of lung cancer increases by 16 percent with every hundred becquerels of radon exposure. So, at the recommended limit those affected would see a 32% chance of contracting lung cancer – if exposed to those levels of radon for an extended period of time.
This is important, in particular because radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The same can be said of Canada, where it is responsible for more than 3,000 deaths each year.
Erin Crawford explains why radon is so dangerous, and what it can actually do to the lungs:
“Radon is essentially a bunch of radioactive particles and when they are in your house, you breathe them in and when you breathe them into your lungs, they hit your lung tissue. That makes you more susceptible to lung cancer down the road. It’s radioactive gas.”
Test Your Home for Radon
If you are unlucky enough to live in an area with the highest levels of radon in the country, you’ll want to have your home tested – just to remain on the safe side.
Most professionals recommend testing your home for the presence of radon every two years. We recommend testing at least twice a year, in addition to installing a radon detector. Homes outfitted with radon mitigation systems should still be tested regularly, as well.
Short-term tests are less accurate, and as such it’s best to use long-term tests whenever possible. It should be noted that long-term tests will need to be left undisturbed for at least three months. During testing you’ll also want to avoid opening windows, doors and letting in air from the outside. This is because the tests collect air samples from within the home, and fresh air will affect the results.
If elevated levels are discovered in your home, they can easily be lowered with the installation of a radon mitigation system. Don’t be alarmed by the prospect, such systems really aren’t that expensive and the cost/safety trade-off is worth it. Lung cancer has an extremely high mortality rate, so it’s better to use preventative measures early on before you’re exposed to high levels of radon for an extended period of time.
Via: CTV News Winnipeg
