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Radon is the second greatest cause of lung cancer according to the Surgeon General and is a very real threat that exists in every area of the country. It is a radioactive gas that is invisible and cannot be detected without testing, so it is imperative that you have testing done. Radon is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is caused by the natural decay of uranium in the ground, rocks and water and naturally exists underneath the earths crust. Once formed it moves through the ground until it reaches the surface.

Radon gas decays until it becomes radioactive particles that can be breathed into your lungs. These particles can then break down further causing small bursts of energy that damage lung tissue and after prolonged exposure cause lung cancer. Not everyone that is exposed to radon gas will develop lung cancer and some may not develop this deadly disease until many years later. Studies conducted by the National Academy of Sciences suggests that more than 21 000 deaths occur each year by radon induced lung cancer. Research suggests that breathing in radon gas is not the only danger, as drinking water containing radon can also have devastating effects.

There is no level of radon exposure that is considered safe and yet one in fifteen homes in the United States is said to have an elevated level of Radon. I’ve seen some homes in the Firelight, Highlands Ranch neighborhood where one home tests with hardly any radon at all, and the home right next door has an extremely high reading.

Radon gets into homes from the soil and ground beneath them. There are many points of entry that allow gases to seep into a home such as the openings and spaces around sump pumps or drains, holes or spaces around utility fixtures such as pipes and wires, crawl spaces and cracks in the floors, walls and foundation of a home, and any other spot where air can get through.

Homes with well water are susceptible to high levels in their water supply, which can lead to elevated overall levels of gas in the home.

Any home, whether it is new or centuries old, air tight or filled with holes, whether it has or does not have a basement can potentially have high radon levels. There is no way to predict whether a home may have high levels of radon, there are no ways of knowing for sure whether there is radon in a home or area without testing for it.

The Surgeon General and EPA strongly suggest that every home be tested for this invisible but potentially deadly gas. It is recommended that the lowest levels (below the third floor) of every dwelling be tested to ensure that there are not elevated levels of radon present that will put occupants at risk.

If an initial short term test is conducted and levels of radon are below 4 pCi/L (picocuries per litre) than no further testing needs to be done at this time. It is wise to periodically retest a home as radon levels can change.

If the first short term test shows a level of 4pCi/L or higher (which means if there are 4 pCi/L there are an estimated 12 672 radioactive disintegrations in just one litre of air in a 24 hr cycle) than further testing should be done to verify the results. A second test showing high levels indicates that action should be taken to correct the problem. Some homes are constructed with a radon resistant design, others can have renovations done to make the home more radon resistant. This can include the installation of ventilation systems and fans that circulate and clean the air.

For the health of your entire family it is important to know that your home is safe from radon gas. Once testing is done you can breath a sigh of relief knowing that the air you breath is not dangerous.

If you’re in the market for a Boulder Colorado Home, or any home in Colorado for that matter, be sure to visit Automated Homefinder.