Radon in your Home
If you live in a home with high radon levels or if you spend a lot of time in one, you are at higher risk for lung cancer.
If you smoke and you live in a home with a high level of radon, you are at an even higher risk for lung cancer.
According to Health Canada Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, accounting for 16% of lung cancer deaths, or 3,200 deaths in Canada, annually. Cancer risk levels with radon are contingent on a few factors. Mainly the exposure levels and the length of exposure. Having elevated levels of Radon in your home results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, invisible and radioactive gas that occurs naturally. Radon is an inert gas, it moves freely and can find access into buildings. The air pressure inside your home is usually lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressure draws air and other gases, including radon, from the soil into your home.
It enters through cracks found around the perimeter of foundations, footings and slabs, sump pump pits and other such areas. Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the soil: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.
All homes have some Radon. Even your home! The question is What Is Your Home Radon Levels? Concentrations typically are highest in basements, crawl spaces and areas closest to the soil. The intensity can be increased as there is often less ventilation in these areas compared to the rest of the home.
According to the latest study, Radioactive Radon Gas exceeds Health Canada guideline levels in one out of eight Calgary homes. With the highest percentage being newer homes. Read morehttp://calgaryherald.com/storyline/study-finds-radioactive-radon-gas-exceeds-safe-levels-in-one-in-eight-calgary-homes
Radon test results and what does it mean?
Action is only required when Radon levels are high. Radon is measured in Becquerel per cubic metre (Bq/m3).
What to do if Radon levels are high?
Radon Levels can be reduced.
By Marco Carello