Radon is a silent killer

January is Nation Radon Action Month, an Environmental Protection Agency initiative to brings the dangers of radon to the forefront of news nationwide. Radon is a naturally occurring carcinogen with many case studies showing a direct correlation to lung cancer and other diseases, according to a release from the EPA.

Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium, thorium, and radium in rock and soil. With no scent or taste and being invisible, radon is a “silent killer” that seeps into building structures and does not discriminate against its victims, the release said.

The EPA has set an action level against radon of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air. Regular exposure to this level of radon is equivalent to smoking eight cigarettes a day and the radiation level is like having 200 chest x-rays per year.

The World Health Organization states that action should be taken at 2.7 pCi/L; however, both the EPA and WHO state that there is no safe level of radon exposure.

Safety from high levels of radon is possible, but action must be taken. First, knowing the radon gas level in homes, workplaces, and schools is key. Second, cracks and crevices should be sealed to minimize the entry of gas into the structure. Finally, a radon mitigation system in needed to remove the radon from under a building foundation, before it can enter in and affect those within the walls.

Radon levels can fluctuate based on the time of year, weather, wind, and a building’s ventilation and insulation. Testing for radon can be done by professionals or with do-it-yourself kits.

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