What is Radon?
Radon gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon gas can be found just about anywhere. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools. Radon has been estimated to cause as many as 14,500 cancer deaths in a single year, second only to smoking!
Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. Radon is classified as a class A carcinogen. You cannot see radon, smell it or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. This is because when you breathe air-containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
You can fix a radon problem. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Correcting radon levels also has other benefits such as eliminating moisture and other air quality issues.
How Does Radon Enter the Home?
Typically the air pressure inside your home is lower than the pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Due to this difference, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon gas in through foundation cracks and other openings of your home. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses.