Silent Killer: Radon in the Home
There are a number of potential home environmental issues that you should be aware of when purchasing a home.
One of the most common is radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Air pressure inside the home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home's foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Over time, it can build up to dangerous levels, potentially causing cancer and other health issues.
Radon is a widespread problem affecting all 50 states although homes in certain areas are more susceptible than others. Radon is estimated to cause many tens of thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon levels can usually be lowered using a process called mitigation, a term that means to moderate something or make it less severe. Some radon mitigation methods prevent radon from entering your home and others reduce radon levels after the gas has entered.
The EPA recommends you use mitigation techniques to reduce indoor radon if levels in your home are above 4 pCi/L ,pico curies per liter.
There are several methods that can be used in radon mitigation. One is soil suction, in which radon is drawn from beneath the house and is vented away from the house through pipes. Another method is by sealing cracks and opening in the basement. Sealing alone doesn't usually lower radon levels, but it can limit the flow of radon into a home and reduce the loss of air that's been conditioned, so it helps make other types of reduction techniques more effective.
Your mitigation contractor can offer complete details about different types of radon reduction systems. After performing tests to determine how radon is entering your home the contractor will be in a better position to recommend the "best" system for your house. Costs vary, but most systems can be installed for $1,000-$2,500.
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