 |
...Continued - Page 3 of 8 (
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
)
Related Showrooms
• Sears - Heating & Cooling Repair
• PexSupply.com - Your Online Source for PEX Plumbing & Radiant Heating Supplies
• Intelligent Warmth - The Value and Benefits of Today's Oilheat
• A.I.M. Radiant Heating - Clean, Quiet, Efficient Heating
When people who smoke are exposed to radon as well, the risk of developing lung cancer is significantly higher than the risk of smoking alone. People who don't smoke, but are exposed to second hand smoke, also have higher risk of lung cancer from radon indoors.
The NAS also estimated that radon in drinking water causes an additional 180 cancer deaths annually. However almost 90% of those projected deaths were from lung cancer from the inhalation of radon released to the indoor air from water, and only about 10% were from cancers of internal organs, mostly stomach cancers, from ingestion of radon in water.
Is there a medical test to determine exposure to radon?
Several decay products can be detected in urine, blood, and lung and bone tissue. However, these tests are not generally available through typical medical facilities. Also, they cannot be used to determine accurate exposure levels, since most radon decay products deliver their dose and decay within a few hours. Finally, these tests cannot be used to predict whether a person's exposure will cause harmful health effects, since everyone's response to exposure is different.
The best way to assess exposure to radon is by measuring concentrations of radon (or radon decay products) in the air you breathe at home.
How do I know if there is radon in my home?
You cannot see, feel, smell, or taste radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing for radon in all rooms below the third floor. EPA also recommends testing in schools.
The EPA Citizen's Guide to Radon describes commonly available tests for measuring radon concentrations in the home. EPA recommends reducing levels of radon in homes where radon concentrations exceed the EPA radon action level of 4 picocuries per liter.
Radon testing is inexpensive and easy—it should only take a few minutes of your time. Millions of Americans have already tested their homes for radon. Various low-cost, do-it-yourself test kits are available through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. You can also hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you.
What can I do to protect myself and my family from radon?
The first step is to test your home for radon, and have it fixed if it is at or above EPA's Action Level of 4 picocuries per liter. You may want to take action if the levels are in the range of 2-4 picocuries per liter. Generally, levels can be brought below 2 pCi/l fairly simply.
The best method for reducing radon in your home will depend on how radon enters your home and the design of your home. For example, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. There are also systems that remove radon from the crawl space or from beneath the concrete floor or basement slab that are effective at keeping radon from entering your home. These systems are simple and don't require major changes to your home. Other methods may be necessary.
|
...Continued - Page 3 of 8 (
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
)
< Previous Page | Next Page >
- Add To:
-
 Del.icio.us
-
 Digg
-
 Google
-
 Y! MyWeb
-
 Reddit
-
 Technorati
|
|
Related Articles
Related Tips
Related Videos
