How hard are you working to make sure that your home is a safe place for your family? You may have taken the time to install child protective locks on cabinets full of cleaners, but have you done everything you can to make sure that your family is breathing air that is safe? You may have invested in an expensive security system that allows you to monitor the comings and goings of members of your family throughout the day and helps you watch your home while you are gone, but have you make sure that there are not dangerous vapors coming from the ground beneath your home?
With the use of professional radon mitigation and abatement services, you can take the extra step of making sure that your family is breathing safe air. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that can be a problem in many homes. And while there are some parts of the country where radon in an even bigger problem, the fact of the matter is that radon test results are the only way to be certain that your home is free from this dangerous gas. The latest research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office estimates that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused by radon each year. Consider some of these other facts and figures about the threats that radon cause and the testing and abatement services that are available:
- The risk of lung cancer increases by 16% per 100 Bq/m increase in average long time radon concentration.
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today, according to Surgeon General warnings.
- By lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s action level, scientists estimate that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by 2% to 4%, which is equivalent to nearly 5,000 deaths.
- 6% of homes in the U.S. are estimated to have radon levels at or above the EPA action level.
- Depending on the device, short-term detectors measure radon levels for two days to 90 days.
- Long-term tests, in comparison, determine the average concentration for more than 90 days.
The health of your family is important. Instead of just taking care of the surface level safety features like installing child protective locks and home security systems, make sure that you are also doing everything possible to protect the air that your family breathes.
