Table of Contents
- 1 What does radon do to humans?
- 2 Where is harm to humans from radon greatest?
- 3 Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
- 4 What are the symptoms of radon in your home?
- 5 Is radon worse in summer or winter?
- 6 Does every home have radon?
- 7 Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
- 8 What time of year is radon worst?
- 9 What can be done to reduce the dangers of radon?
- 10 How dangerous is radon to your health?
- 11 What exactly is radon and why is it dangerous?
What does radon do to humans?
When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person’s risk of lung cancer. The risk is higher in those who have lived for many years in a radon-contaminated house.
Where is harm to humans from radon greatest?
For most people, the greatest exposure to radon occurs in the home where people spend much of their time, though indoor workplaces may also be a source of exposure.
What are signs of radon poisoning?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place.
What are the symptoms of radon in your home?
Do all basements have radon?
Basements aren’t the only place you can find radon. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Unfortunately, it’s also very wrong. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
Does every home have radon?
Remember all homes have radon gas in them. Where a high radon level is detected, it can be successfully lowered at a cost which is usually small when compared to the value of the house. When a high radon level is found, fixing the problem can help protect the value of your home.
What are the first signs of radon poisoning?
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Again, the only way to ensure you are removing radon from your home is with a mitigation system. Sealing the basement floor can help, but just sealing the cracks is unlikely to reduce your radon levels in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings would be a better step.
What time of year is radon worst?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Does cold weather affect radon?
1 Cold weather in the winter affects radon levels. This escape of air causes a vacuum inside the home. If the air in your home is under negative pressure, radon gas can be pulled in from the soil below the foundation. This stack effect can be greater in the winter months resulting in more gas entering the home.
What can be done to reduce the dangers of radon?
you could actually increase the levels of radon in your home!
How dangerous is radon to your health?
When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs and gives off radiation. Over a long time, that can damage the cells there and lead to lung cancer. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you breathe a lot of radon and smoke, your chance of getting lung cancer is very high.
What is a dangerous level of radon?
Radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L are considered dangerous. However, government standards recommend an average level of 0.4 pCi/L to prevent virtually all possibility of harmful radon gas side effects.
What exactly is radon and why is it dangerous?
Radon: What Is It and Why Is It Dangerous? Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It dramatically increases the risk of cancer in those who inhale air contaminated with it for long periods of time.