It is estimated that 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States currently exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) action levels for radon exposure. Higher radon levels have been detected in homes on Indian lands, however, and the US EPA reported that almost 1 in every 3 homes had levels that exceeded recommended action levels.
The Surgeon General has stated that the leading cause of lung cancer in America is due to radon poisoning. Both the US EPA and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that radon has been the underlying cause for up to 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year. There is also a 16% increased risk for developing lung cancer when exposure to radon concentrations of 100 Bq/m occur over an extended period of time.
Scientists concur that when radon levels can be lowered beneath the US EPA’s action levels, the number of deaths could be reduced. It is estimated that this could reduce the number of radon-oriented deaths by 2% to 4%, which amounts to roughly 5,000 lives saved by these interventions.
In order to determine whether or not radon gas is present in a home or the surrounding grounds, it is important to have residential radon testing services make this determination. If this toxic gas is present, then radon mitigation and abatement services can be provided to address the situation.
There are short-term as well as long-term tests available. While it does depend on the device being used, short-term detectors will usually measure the average radon concentration for 2 to 90 days. A long-term test, however, will determine the average radon levels for over 90 days.
If radon is detected, passive as well as active mitigation systems may be utilized to reduce these levels. While indoor radiation levels have been reduced by 50% with passive mitigation systems, when a radon ventilation fan is also used, these levels can be further reduced.
Since radon is odorless, many homeowners may not realize that this gas is present in or around their house or surrounding grounds. Rather than take the risk of exposure, it makes sense to contact residential radon testing services for testing.