Q: What is Radon?
Radon is a tasteless, odorless radioactive gas that can build up inside of any building.
Radon most often gets into buildings through openings in a foundation. A crack in the foundation and open drains often allow the radon entry to the home or business. Also, radon can seep in directly through certain types of porous concrete without any other type of opening. Because radon cannot be detected using smell, sight or taste, seeping radon is particularly dangerous because its not obvious to building owners that there could even be a problem.
This insidious gas is the second leading cause of cancer in the United States behind smoking, and smokers are at particular risk. The only way to protect your home and business from the dangers posed by this gas is to have professional testing and, if necessary, mitigation performed.
Q: Where does Radon come from?
Radon is produced during the natural decay of radioactive radium found in the abundant uranium and thorium deposits in the soil beneath much of the continental US. As these other elements break down, they form radon gas that is radioactive and dangerous to the health of living organisms.
Q: Why is Radon dangerous?
Q: How do you eliminate Radon?
Answer:
Getting rid of and keeping radon out is possible using modern mitigation techniques. While total exposure cannot be eliminated, the levels in the indoor air can be significantly reduced – even if the levels were within acceptable limits.
The EPA recommends hiring a professional radon mitigation specialist to lower radon levels. This is recommended because of the serious dangers posed by radon and the possible complexities required to sufficiently reduce the level of radon. Mitigation attempts by those who are not properly trained can lead to heavy radon exposure and possibly an increase in the radon level in the home.
There are a number of techniques used to reduce the levels of radon in a home. Often these involve adding some kind of suction or escape route for the gas beneath the foundation. Offering the gas an easy way to escape from the soil usually results in most of it being expelled from an exhaust located outside of the home.