subject: High Radon Gas Levels: How Safe Is Your Home? [print this page] Some people experience problems in their respiratory system such us difficulty breathing, chest pains and coughing up blood, even bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia, all from living in a basement.
One might wonder where the damage comes from, but it gets even worse. Elevated radon levels in one's home could virtually kill lung cells when it releases harmful radiation when the gas gets converted inside your body. As a matter of fact, radon is the leading culprit of lung cancer in non-smokers, with only about 15% of its victims likely to survive. And you may probably be harboring the culprit in your own home.
Radon is a naturally-occurring gas in a great part of America where trace uranium deposits are found, since the gas is an intermediate product of the radioactive decay of uranium. It could enter your home through cracks in the floors or the walls, and collects in areas with poor ventilation such as basements and ceilings. The amount of radon gas is halved every 3.8 days, so it has to be directed outside by keeping the air moving inside the house. Its presence or elevated radon gas levels is not discernible through any of out senses since it is both odorless and colorless, so it is advisable to make use of radon testing kits that are conventionally available or have your house tested by a radon mitigation professional.
These steps could significantly lower the radon gas levels in your house. Have air moving throughout the house so the gas can be driven outside the house where the radon concentration is virtually negligible. Radon barrier sheets are commercially available- install it on gaps between the floor and the wall, and seal off cracks as well.
These simple steps to control radon gas level can be done with minimum effort and with great results, but to deal with elevated radon gas levels you should contact a radon mitigation professional.
