Radon may enter any home, whether it has a basement, a crawl space, or is constructed on a slab. Radon levels might be high in the workplace, a school, or any structure. Since you spend the most time at home, radon exposure is most likely here.

What is Radon?

First, let’s start with a short review of what radon is. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally. It is formed when uranium, thorium, and radium degrade in soil, rock, and water. It is then discharged into the atmosphere. Radon has no odor, no taste, and is entirely invisible.

Radon can build up in locations where ventilation is insufficient, such as an underground mine. It can even accumulate within structures. Exposure to high amounts of radon over an extended period might be hazardous to your health.

Is it reasonable to live in a house with radon?

Buying a new home may be as thrilling as it is stressful. In addition to selecting a home that fits your budget and lifestyle, you must check that it is structurally sound and free of dangers, such as excessive levels of radon gas. The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA says that “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” House buyers do not need to be concerned about the quality of the air in their homes after radon mitigation measures are in place. 

Radon Problems: How to Fix Them?

Radon problems can occur any time of the month or year. Even if a professional radon test shows that your home has acceptable radon levels, if the house settles in the future, a minor foundation fracture might allow the gas to leak in without your awareness. Here are some things you need to do:

1. Install one or more radon detectors on the lower floors of your house to be safe.
2. Install a radon mitigation system to reduce the gas level. Do not remove it because radon gas is safe at levels less than four pCi/L.
3. Block or seal any potential entry points, such as fractures in basement floors and walls, as well as gaps around service pipes.
4. Build a collecting pipe beneath the basement to transport radon gas away from the house.
5. Underneath the slab or flooring, create a gas-permeable layer. This permits radon to enter your home through the foundation, but it only works if you have a basement or slab foundation. It is not suitable for homes with a crawl area.
6. Put up plastic sheeting. The sheeting is installed on top of the gas-permeable layer beneath the slab to prevent radon from entering your house. If you have a crawl space, the sheeting goes over the floor of the crawl space.

Do Air Purifiers Reduce Radon?

Whether or not one has allergies, it is vital to understand that what is contained in indoor air affects one’s health – even if you can’t smell, see, or taste it. This is the situation with radon, and its consequences can be fatal.  The purpose of air purifiers is to purify the air in your house, providing you and your family with cleaner air to breathe. Air purifiers can also assist in removing harmful substances and gases from your home’s air, such as radon.

Radon may be found everywhere and even if it’s at a low level, you’re probably breathing it in every day. However, you can’t know if you’re living it in deeply. Radon problems may arise as time passes. It is preferable if you take the initial step toward safeguarding your house from this dangerous gas. If not, you might regret it later. 

There is a frequent misunderstanding that you are safe if your radon test results indicate radon levels below the EPA action limit. But consider this: if your 6-month dental check-up reveals no cavities, does that guarantee you’ll never need to return for another exam? Don’t allow radon to creep up on you and your family without your knowledge. 

According to the American Lung Association, this tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas is found in hazardous levels in one out of every 15 houses in the United States. Home kits make it simple to test for radon, but testing once is insufficient. Like dental or medical check-ups, radon testing should be done regularly, at least twice a year.

What is Radon?

First, a brief refresher. Radon is an odorless gas produced by uranium, present in all types of soil and rock. Being exposed to radon daily, severe health problems can develop when this radioactive gas becomes trapped indoors. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, making it the second-largest cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon levels are high in every state across the country, in every style of home or structure, regardless of age or basement presence. 

Why A Short-Term Radon Test is Insufficient

No two houses are alike, just as no two individuals. Radon levels can also differ across neighbors, so don’t depend on their findings to decide whether or not to test for radon. A one-time test is ideal for determining the radon levels in your house at that time. However, the only way to assure you are safe from the impacts of radon is to monitor levels over time, which requires regular testing. 

Here are the factors why you should test your radon levels regularly:

Changing seasons

Radon levels fluctuate seasonally as the soil surrounding your house becomes drier or wetter. If your most recent radon test was negative, try scheduling your next radon test during a different season. Rather than waiting two years to test again in the spring, consider checking radon levels a few months early in the winter.

Moving lower

If you relocate to an unoccupied floor of your house, especially a basement or partially underground ground floor, you should do a new radon test on the occupied space. Complete your radon testing before relocating into a basement location, even if it means postponing usage for a few months.

Home modifications

Major house renovations, particularly those involving structural alterations or foundation repairs, can cause the emission of radon. Gas can enter through gaps in the foundation or walls, structural joints, and holes in the floor or service pipes. The ventilation and soil beneath your home might be affected, offering additional chances and routes for radon to infiltrate your home.

Changes in living patterns

If you decide to start utilizing the basement as an office, bedroom, or children’s playroom, you’ll be spending more time in locations where radon is most likely to develop. Radon tests must be done before anything else to ensure that you are not putting your health at risk.

Another widespread assumption is that once a mitigation device is installed, no additional testing is required. While these systems can significantly lower the quantity of radon in your home, they cannot entirely remove it. It is critical to do testing every few years to confirm that your system is operating correctly and that radon levels stay low.

There are reports of people getting exposed to radon while they are inside their homes. Along with this, many have speculated about how it enters their homes and workplaces. Does it come from building materials?

Does Radon Come From Building Materials?

In times like this, you need to check your radon facts to avoid getting scared of nothing. Radon affects your health, and it is just right to get concerned whether you are living in a house or working in a safe office. The same thing goes with your houses. 

Before a building is constructed, it needs to secure enough documents to make sure that it is risk-free for people using it. It needs to have a good foundation that will hold up the structure for years. Also, it needs to undergo a fire safety inspection.

In addition, you may need a radon test after construction. The reason why is because radon may get trapped inside. How does it get trapped? Is it because of the building materials?

Building Materials That May Emit Radon

Radon may indeed be released indoors through materials used in the building. However, it still depends on the composition. Materials with radium content are most likely the ones releasing it. Once radium decays, it produces radioactive gas. Some of these items that may contain radium that has radon gas are the following.

Granite

You can find this material as flooring or countertops in the kitchen. They are stunning pieces, which is why people tend to use them in their houses.

Concrete

It is one of the essential things in construction. Its strength is perfect for building the foundation that will support the structure.

Gypsum Board

It is often used in ceilings and walls. It controls the sound in the room, and it is fire-resistant.

Bricks

Bricks do have their character. A house can be made just by using bricks. Still, it can serve as decorations. It can be used in the garden and pavements.

Field Stone

They are usually seen in the exterior walls. Yet, designers include them in the interior aesthetics as well.

Although these materials exhale radon, it is not the amount that is harmful. It may only contribute to the radon levels inside. This is one of the radon facts not many people know of. Most of it still comes out from the soil where the structure is situated. Here are some ways on how it can enter the structure.

• Radon can travel through cracks on floors and walls.
• Another passage for the radioactive gas is the gaps between cables and water pipes.
• If you are using groundwater, there are chances that the water may contain radon. This is also a way for the radon to get in your body by ingestion.

How to Get Rid of Radon

You do not need to contact a radon professional right away. You can do a radon test by using home radon test kits. Differences in radon level can be observed among different parts of the building and even neighboring ones. The length of the test varies from 48 hours to 90 days. It will be nice to include the radon test in your house maintenance which can be done every two years.

Once the results are out and the radon level in your house or building is confirmed, you need a professional to do the remaining work. Most commonly, they install a ventilation system that sends the radon out of the building. They can also have treatments for your water.

Radon cannot be eliminated because it is part of nature. It is not something to be afraid of. Instead, it is something that can be worked on. List down on your radon facts that building materials only emit a subtle amount of radon. You do not need to avoid these materials in building your office or your dream house.

Water is one of the things that is needed to run a household. The pressure and safety of it should be considered when moving into a new house or apartment. Having radon and drinking water together is not a pleasant condition to be in. The people living with you can get sick, and the complications may result in death.

Although the amount of radon in the air that comes from drinking water is only one to two percent, it is much better to be well informed. Here are the things you need to know when dealing with this kind of situation.

What are the Water Sources?

Water can contain radon depending on where it is derived. It can be from surface water or groundwater. Households get their water from either of the two water sources.

Groundwater

This refers to wells and springs. The radon from the soil can dissolve into the water. Yet, not all of the water that comes from this source contains radon. It comes from underground, which is why it is more vulnerable to radon.

Surface Water

Compared to groundwater, surface water does not pose any threat from radon. This is because the radon is already released into the air by the time the water reaches your home. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are examples of it.

Please note that not connecting to a local water supplier does not mean that you are using surface water. You need to know what their water source is. They can still get water from underground. However, most water suppliers have certificates regarding safety. This includes a radon test. Still, you can contact them if you have doubts.

How Does Radon From Drinking Water Enter the Body?

There are two ways how radon from water can enter your body. They are through inhalation and ingestion.

Inhalation

People may get confused about how radon from water can be inhaled. First, radon is gas in nature. Therefore, it moves freely in the air. Just like how the radon seeps out from the soil, it also escapes the water. When water is being used in household chores like showering and washing the dishes, that is the time when it is being released in the air.

Ingestion

Radon can be consumed at the same time as you drink water. Though some radon is being emitted in the air, some of it stays in the water.

Among these two, more health concerns arise when it is being inhaled. Once you breathe it in, it can damage lung tissues that can lead to lung cancer. This situation is more common than internal organ cancers such as stomach cancer that may happen when swallowed. 

How to Remove Radon From Water?

After knowing the radon level, the next thing to do is to have the water treated. There are two ways to get rid of it. You can choose from GAC filters and aeration devices. 

GAC Filters

It uses granular activated carbon (GAC) to filter out the radon from the water. High radon levels can be found on these filters after use. Make sure to handle and dispose of it properly.

Aeration Devices

In this method, the water is mixed with air through bubbling. It helps the radon to be separated from the water and get sent out through an exhaust.

These methods are both done at the main entry point of the water. It needs to be treated before it reaches the faucets and showerhead. Having the process done at the end of use will only remove a small amount and may not be as effective.

It is said that people can live without food but not water. It is essential to one’s daily life. One way to stay in good shape is to keep hydrated. Water is best consumed with vitamins and minerals. However, radon and drinking water are not the best combinations. Let it not be the reason for you to be unhealthy.