You’ve likely heard about radon when purchasing or selling your home, but what do you know about the effects of radon gas? Radon is a common gas that causes harm to thousands of individuals in the United States and can be a danger to your family if not mitigated properly. High levels of radon can cause lung cancer, with approximately 15,000-22,000 radon-related deaths annually. Over 1,100 of those deaths happen right here in Illinois. Protect your home or business by learning about the effects of radon exposure and how to install a radon mitigation system.
What is Radon?
Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, yet it’s dangerous and carcinogenic. It’s produced from the natural decay of radium in the soil under your home, and it enters through cracks and pushes right through the concrete floor of your lowest level. Radon prevalence varies greatly throughout the U.S., but most states have some area of high radon. Illinois is a hotbed. Even locally, levels vary, as an area with mostly low radon may have a few buildings that are high, and vice versa. It does not matter much the age of your building, the building design, or the number of cracks in your floor. Radon is most hazardous when levels are above 4.0 pCi/L, the level at which the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) advises homeowners to take action.
If you’re inhaling 4.0 pCi/L of radon daily, it’s roughly equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day. If you test your home or business and see levels above 4.0 pCi/L, reducing those levels should be your priority.
What are the Effects of Radon?
The proven effects of long term radon gas exposure are to significantly increase the odds of contracting lung cancer. It has not been proven to cause any other issues, but a possible link to Alzheimer’s Disease is being studied. The U.S. Surgeon General and organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed programs to help people learn about the dangers of radon, including releasing a national health advisory and launching an international radon awareness project. The effects of radon are more pronounced in smokers but are dangerous for everyone.
What Should I Do About Radon?
If you’ve had your home tested, have elevated levels of radon, and live in the Chicagoland area, consider a radon mitigation system from DuPage Radon Contractors. Over the last 25 years, we’ve installed over 12,000 systems throughout the Chicago area. We know about the effects of radon gas and the measures to protect your home. Give us a call or fill out our form to get a quote and fast installation. Mitigate the effects of radon with a radon reduction system from DuPage Radon Contractors.