What Is Radon Gas? Is It Dangerous To Humans?
As we all know, our atmosphere is made of gases; it consists of nitrogen, oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide, and argon, to name a few. Still, there are a lot of gases that are unknown amongst too many, one of which is the radon gas. What is radon gas? And is it harmful to humans? Let’s find out.
What is Radon Gas? Is It Harmful To Humans?
Radon gas is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas on the planet, and it is also said that inhaling radon gas can cause lung cancer. Is it harmful? Yes. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, and inert. Although radon gas is traced in the earth’s atmosphere, it is only in traceable amounts.
If radon is traced in our atmosphere, then is it harmful? No, radon gas quickly disperses outdoors and doesn’t pose any health concerns. However, most people can encounter radon gas in their workplaces, homes, and schools; that’s why radon testing these areas is a great way to minimize health risks.
Most radon gas that enters a building or home gets trapped. Still, it can be controlled with various techniques, such as doing radon testing and inspection every month. Many radon testing companies can offer you services to reduce radon exposure to your family members.
Dangers of Radon Gas
As we’ve mentioned, inhaling radon gas can pose many health risks, such as lung cancer. Exposure to radon gas for long periods can increase the risk of having lung cancer. In fact, radon gas exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancers in the United States. The EPA or the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that around 21,000 to 23,000 people die each year because of radon-related cancer, second only to smoking.
How Can I Prevent Radon Exposure?
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce radon exposure at home or in your workplace. Radon gas testing is the only way to measure radon gas levels in different areas. Have your home tested by radon mitigation and abatement service to ensure your family members aren’t exposed to these harmful radioactive gases or use radon test kits to check whether there are huge levels of radon gas at home.
What are Radon Gas Mitigation and Abatement Services?
Radon is a carcinogen that quickly gets trapped in your home, and with high levels, it can be pretty tricky for you to deal with it as exposure to these gases can lead to lung cancer. Radon testing companies are trained individuals that can perform various techniques and methods to mitigate radon exposure. They are fully equipped with tools and equipment to detect radon levels at home properly.
However, ensure that the radon mitigation and abatement service company you are hiring is certified and licensed to their state to perform this critical safety and preventive measures.
Effective Methods For Radon Reduction
Almost all licensed and certified radon mitigation companies are tested and proven to have a 99% success rate in dealing with radon gas. If you happen to hire a radon mitigation service, they will most likely have techniques at their disposal to ensure adequate reduction of radon gas exposure.
There are multiple methods used in radon mitigation, and it can either prevent radon gas from entering your home or reduce radon gas levels when it has already entered your home.
The environmental protection agency or EPA has recommended various methods for radon reduction, such as the process of soil suction in which it draws that radon gas out of your home and pushes it outside of the premises. There are also other methods such as house and room pressurization, natural ventilation, heat recovery ventilation, and house sealing, to name a few.
Like a chimney or furnace, some radon reduction systems also require maintenance to provide optimal efficiency when reducing radon levels. To do this, you can check the warning device of your reduction system to verify it is working in great shape.
Some radon reduction systems also rely on fans to provide proper ventilation in areas of your house or workplace with significant radon gas levels. The fans should always be checked every month to ensure they function efficiently to reduce radon levels effectively.