Dangerous Levels of Radon in the Home

There are many, many hazards that exist in any house at any one time, but the majority of these hazards can be easily detected. Most people are aware, for instance, that certain appliances such as toaster ovens must be closely watched to ensure that there is no chance for an accidental fire. Home owners are careful to turn off curling irons, ovens and stove tops to prevent electricity fires.

But there are certain hazards that exist in the home that can only be found by professional testing. These silent killers are usually types of gas. The most well known of these gases that can kill is carbon monoxide and most newer homes have responded to the threat by installing carbon monoxide detectors. These detetectors are even required by law in many states for rental properties. But there is another gas that can be deadly that is less well known. This gas is radon.

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring gas that also happens to be radioactive. It is a byproduct of uranium, the essential element used in the creation of the atomic bomb.

When radon is present in the ground below a home, the gas can come up through the soil and slowly leak into the house. There is now clear evidence that shows a link between long term radon exposure and lung cancer. In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Radon causes around 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.

Testing for Radon

There are a number of different ways to test for radon. There are commercially available kits which include collectors that are placed on the lowest livable level of a home and left for 2 to 7 days and then sent to a lab for analysis. The effectiveness of these kits and accuracy level is debatable. Radon levels also fluctuate, so a test that shows that at one point in the year that levels of radon in a home were safe may not be correct. It is best to ask a professional to test a home for radon levels. Professionals can provide more sophisticated types of testing and the accuracy of the tests are more reliable.

For more information about radon in the home, visit the website of the personal injury attorneys of sheboyganpersonalinjuryattorney.com Habush Habush & Rottier SC.

Joseph Devine