Carbon monoxide is widely recognized as the "Silent Killer" and for good reason. However, there is another silent danger that, up until recently, has managed to fly under the radar. While mostly everyone these days has a carbon monoxide detector mounted right next to their smoke detector, fewer people are aware of the cancer-causing radioactive gas called radon that is actually the second-leading cause of lung cancer in America behind smoking. In fact, almost 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused every year by radon, according to the U.S. Environmental Agency.
So what is this mystery gas and where does it come from? Well, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is both colorless and odorless. Much like carbon monoxide, it is impossible to smell or taste and can only be detected by testing for it. It is produced from the natural breakdown of uranium and can be found naturally in igneous rock and soil and even well water. The main point of human exposure to radon is through inhalation, although ingestion is also possible if radon has infiltrated the water supply.
Because radon is produced in rock and soil, the most common entry points into your home are places that are below ground. A basement or crawl space underneath the house are typical entry points for radon and may contain higher-than-normal levels of the gas. Also, walls made of brick or rock are especially susceptible to higher radon levels, as are slab joints and sump pumps.
The U.S. EPA has estimated that approximately 8 million homes in America have higher-than-acceptable levels of radon, and that as many as one in five homes have elevated levels. The EPA has placed the recommended level of radon at 4 pCi/L. It is estimated that a family being exposed to 4 pCi/L of radon in their home is being exposed to levels of radiation that are 35 times higher than normal. Scientists place the risk of death from exposure to radon at this level to be 1 in 100, about 1,000 higher than any other carcinogen.
If this is the first time you are hearing of radon, we'll admit that this information can sound pretty scary. Fortunately, it can take many years of constant exposure to witness any ill effects on your health caused by radon gas. This means that you should have plenty of time to have your home tested for radon and take the necessary steps to remedy it if your home is at higher-than-normal levels.
Congress highly recommends that everyone has their home tested for radon, and if you feel that you or your family is at risk due to the high exposure to the deadly radioactive gas, there are ways to greatly reduce the levels of radon in your home for relatively cheap.
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