Is Radon for Real?
There are a lot of myths about radon out there and one of them is whether Radon is real and if it's actually dangerous. Is Radon for real? We will answer that question in more detail, but in summary- YES!
I had home inspection clients, Ben & Melissa, contact me for a home inspection in Pottstown and they asked Should I get a Radon Test? They said their real estateagent had recommended the test, but they weren't sure they wanted to spend the money to have it done. 
Melissa said her parents never had such a test and they were fine. Is radon for real?
Radon is a radioactive gas that causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to the EPA. Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil and water. It can seep up through foundations and get trapped in homes.
There are scientists that dispute the exact number of deaths attributed to radon, but the fact is The Center for Disease Control, the American Medical Association, and Amercian Lung Association agrees that every year there are thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths. The EPA, PA DEP, and Surgeon General all recommend that every household be tested.
The radon gas itself does not pose substantial health risk. It's radon's decay particles that are the problem. These decay particles are known as "radon progeny" decay. They release alpha particles that penetrate lung cells and damage DNA and other cellular components.
The EPA claims the ionizing radiation produces irreversible damage that will eventually lead to lung cancer.
It's difficult to believe something is real when you can't see it, taste it, smell it, etc. But radon gas does exist and it's best to have your home tested.
David Artigliere is a home inspector in Pottstown, Reading, Malvern, and surrounding areas. He offers radon testing services in addition to home inspections. Contact ARTI Home Inspections LLC today!
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