You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it’s there. Radon is a gas that falls right behind smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer, causing as many as 21,000 deaths each year. We actually breathe it consistently because it exists in small amounts in almost all air; however, exposure to large amounts of radon can increase chances of developing lung cancer.
January is national Radon Awareness month and government agencies such as Wayne County, MI and the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health are now giving away free at-home radon testing kits in an effort to protect their communities. It is recommended by the The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. They estimate that about 1 in 15 homes have radon levels higher than this amount and should take action to reduce it.
Want to test the amount of radon in your home? You have a couple of options.
1. If you’re the DIY type, you can go to a hardware store and buy a test for yourself.
2. Call us. We’re specialists who deal with Radon on a daily basis. A testing kit will only work for one area of the home, while a visit from us will ensure that you’re not overlooking any hazardous areas in your living space.
Most people don’t even hear about radon until they buy their first home, which means that countless Americans may be living with the gas and not have a clue that it exists. This year for Radon Awareness month, please share this message with a friend.
If testing an area yourself reveals that you have high levels of radon, the good news is that you can get rid of it. Call a U.S. EPA or State-Certified contractor such as ourselves to rectify the situation. We’ll make the necessary repairs to decrease radon levels for you.