January is National Radon Action Month! This month and beyond, you can help us spread awareness of radon health implications and promote radon testing and mitigation.
There are many things you can do this month (and year-round) to keep you and your family safe. Be sure to share this list with others.
Here are five things to do for National Radon Action Month:
- Learn About Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally through the breakdown of radium, also known as the decay product of uranium. Radium and Uranium are both naturally occurring elements in the soil, but they can enter homes through cracks in basements and the foundation. Outdoors, radon is harmlessly dispersed, but if it accumulates within buildings, it can lead to long-term health implications. When large amounts of radon are inhaled, it attaches to your lungs and undergoes radioactive decay, which can lead to lung cancer.
To learn more about radon, visit the Mold Medics website, read educational blog posts, search for national radon events in your community, and read free EPA radon publications.
- Test Your Home
Did you know that Pennsylvania has a serious radon problem in the United States? According to the EPA, about 40% of Pennsylvania homes have elevated radon levels (above 4 picocuries per liter). It’s impossible to completely eradicate radon, but you can reduce it to safer levels.
The only way to know if you have elevated radon levels in your home is to implement professional radon testing, particularly long-term testing. When a professional implements long-term radon testing in your home, it will measure levels in your home for at least 90 days. These tests are an easy, safe, and accurate way to ensure your home has safe radon levels.
- Install Radon Mitigation Systems
If radon levels come back elevated (greater than 4 pCi/L), hire a licensed and certified professional to install a radon mitigation system. Note: Homes with readings between 2pCi/L & 4pCi/L should also consider mitigation to lessen exposure.
Radon mitigation systems include sub-slab depressurization radon mitigation systems. This system uses PVC piping from the sub-slab radon collection point, created by negative pressure, to a fan mounted to the exterior of your home. The radon gas is expelled from your home through the exterior stack that extends past your roofline.
To learn more about radon mitigation systems, visit our website, review this informative infographic, catch up on blog posts, or read free resources from the EPA.
- Use Radon-Resistant Materials
If you’re building new construction, you should consider using radon-resistant materials. By doing so, you’ll not only protect your family from elevated radon levels, but you’ll also save money if you were to have elevated levels in the future. It’s more cost-effective to implement radon-resistant materials during construction compared to after.
According to the EPA, in a new home, you should install a sub-slab depressurization system, use plastic sheeting and caulking to create barriers to radon entry, install air-handling units in all ducts in basements and crawl spaces, and seal large cracks and openings. For more information on how to build a radon-resistant home, visit the EPA’s Building Radon Out plan.
- Spread the Word
Share radon health risks with your friends and family, and encourage them to test their homes. Tell them what you learned about radon, how you implemented testing in your home, and what type of mitigation systems are available.
The only way we can keep each other safe from elevated radon levels is through awareness and testing. Because radon is an inert, colorless, and odorless gas, most people don’t know that they have high levels in their home, so be sure to spread the word!
We Do More Than Mold
At Mold Medics, our goal is to keep you and your family safe through our effective processes. We offer accurate long-term testing and sub-slab depressurization radon mitigation systems in Pennsylvania. Our team is fully licensed and certified by the Department of Environmental Protection with up-to-date DEP-issued photo identification cards.