LeAnna M. Norquest, Radon Measurement and Mitigation Specialist for SRE HomeServices, wrote this Letter to the Editor for National Radon Awareness Month.
Exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Every home in Nebraska has some level of radon concentration in the home.
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that can accumulate in the home and can cause lung cancer in adults and children. Radon usually comes from the surrounding soil and can enter through cracks and openings on the lower levels of the home. Many people don’t know about radon gas because it can’t be seen, smelled or tasted. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate of radon-induced lung cancer is among the lowest.
Radon exposure kills an estimated 20,000 people in the U.S. each year − a number that could be dramatically reduced by easy, inexpensive home testing and repair.
Radon levels vary around the country, state to state, and home to home. Just because a home tests low for indoor radon does not mean that the house next door is at a radon concentration below the EPA’s action-level threshold. The only way to know if a family and home is at risk for elevated radon exposure is to test the home.
Conducting a radon test is as easy as opening a package, placing a detector in a designated area, and after a set number of days, sending the detector back to the lab for analysis. Radon measurement and mitigation companies offer radon concentration measurements in the home using specialized equipment at a very affordable price with quick results. Most companies can produce a test result within 36 to 48 hours. If the home does have an elevated level of radon, a qualified radon mitigation contractor can make repairs to solve the problem and help limit the family’s exposure.
The U.S. Surgeon General recognizes radon as a health risk and recommends that all homes across the country be tested. Testing your home, and making repairs if necessary, is a small price to pay for the health of your loved ones.
The world is full of unknowns and potential hazards like radon, but thankfully, we can eliminate it before it can cause the loss of your loved one. Life is short enough − don’t let something as easy to fix as radon make it even shorter.
If you have any questions about radon testing and mitigation in your home or business, please call SRE HomeServices at 402-970-1350.