Among the health hazards common in American homes is radon gas. Produced as a natural byproduct of the decay of uranium, radon has been shown to cause damage to lung tissue when inhaled, which may result in cancer. You can use simple test kits to check your home for radon.
Identification
Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas at room temperature. It appears in small amounts in nature and is radioactive. Radon may enter a home through cracks in the basement walls or the home's foundation, explains the Environmental Protection Agency.
Significance
Radon is considered a health hazard because of its effects on human lung tissue, according to the National Institutes of Health. Radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Radon causes lung cancer by settling to the bottom of the lungs after it is inhaled. Over time it breaks down, releasing radioactive particles that damage lung tissue. Because radon is much heavier than air, it cannot be exhaled.
Amounts
The Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum level of radon gas allowable before action should be taken at 4 picoCuries per liter of air--a relatively small amount. The EPA says there is no safe level of radon, as any amount may cause lung damage once it is inhaled. Children are thought to be especially sensitive to the damaging effects of radon gas.
Prevention/Solution
Since radon cannot be detected by the human senses, the only way to know how much radon may be in your home is to use a test kit. These are widely available in hardware stores. You can also hire a radon tester; you state's radon office may provide a list of qualified testers. A list is also available on the EPA website.
If radon is found in the home, the EPA suggests installing a soil-suction radon reduction system to pull the radon from the air in the home and deposit it outside. These systems, which involve a fan and vents, do not require major renovations. Sealing basement cracks can help the system work better.
Considerations
If you're selling your home, a buyer may want to know what levels of radon the home contains. A qualified radon tester can help answer this question, and deciding who will pay for the testing can be part of the bargaining process.
If you're building a new home, you may want to consider radon-resistant building measures, particularly if you live in an area known to have high levels of radon. Maps of radon amounts in the United States are on the EPA website.
