![]() According to the EPA, the average radon gas concentration in a home is about 1.3 pCi/L, which does not pose an appreciable risk to most residents living in the house. However, because radon isn’t safe at any level, they also suggest treating homes with radon levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. While there are no safe radon levels, the EPA strongly recommends taking steps to reduce indoor radon levels if they occur in concentrations higher than 4 pCi/L. Is there such a thing as a safe level of radon? That rate is about 200 times the risk of dying in a house fire. Approximately 150 smokers who live in a home with radon gas levels at 10 pCi/L could develop lung cancer.As many as 62 of 1,000 smokers could develop lung cancer if they lived in a home with a 4 pCi/L radon gas level.Of 1,000 smokers living in a house with a 1.3 pCi/L concentration of radon gas, approximately 20 could develop lung cancer.EPA estimates reveal the correlation between a home’s radon level and the risk of smokers who live there developing radon-related cancer. The risk of developing radon-related lung cancer also increases substantially if the home’s inhabitants are smokers. The higher the gas concentration, the more likely those living in the house will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Living in a home with high radon levels increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon may also contribute to leukemia, although more studies are needed to verify a definitive link. That means even a second story could potentially contain high levels of radon.Īccording to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), airborne radon particles are radioactive and, when inhaled, can damage the lining of the lungs. Radon gas is slightly heavier than air, so while it settles in basements and crawl spaces, whole-house HVAC systems have a tendency to distribute the gas throughout the entire home. Radon gas is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), and the EPA recommends radon mitigation for all homes with radon gas levels of 4 pCi/L or higher. While radon is considered harmless in the low levels that are found outdoors, when it seeps into a home it can become concentrated in levels high enough to put residents at risk. Photo: Why should I be concerned about radon? Check out this interactive EPA map to find out if you’re house hunting in a high-risk zone. has radon gas, but some areas are a higher risk than others. ![]() In buildings, however, it can become concentrated. As these substances deteriorate, the gas is released and eventually works its way to the surface of the ground and into the air we breathe.įortunately, radon gas is so diluted in our outdoor environment that it doesn’t pose a health risk. Radon gas is a byproduct of the underground decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium and thorium. ![]() ![]() Read on to learn all about radon gas: how to have a property inspected for it, why radon in homes is something to be concerned about, and what can be done to remove radon gas from your home to make it safer for your family. That doesn’t mean that the presence of radon in homes is a deal breaker, however. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. ![]()
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