Radioactive Radon and Radon Measurement
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, colorless, odorless gas produced by the disintegration of uranium and radium. Its offspring, radon, is a major contributor to Earth’s natural background radiation. Certain granites and shales, as well as soil and groundwater, may contain trace levels of these radioactive elements.
In comparison to the other noble gases, radon has the highest density. This causes it to congregate in places that are low and enclosed. There, it may accumulate to dangerous levels and pose a threat to human health.
Why Should We Care About Radon?
Around 20,000 people die from lung cancer every year in the United States, and research suggests that radon exposure may be a significant cause. Radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, the Surgeon General has warned. Those who smoke and younger children are thought to be at greater risk from radon exposure. Nevertheless, radon exposure is responsible for more fatalities each year than automobile accidents, drowning, and house fires combined.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is present everywhere, and there is no safe threshold for exposure to it. Radon levels vary depending on where you live, but in the United States, you may expect to find an average of around 0.4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of radon in outdoor air. The levels of radon inside should be comparable to those outside, however, this is often not the case. Indoor radon levels are typically about 1.3 pCi/L.
If your home’s radon level is more than 4.0 pCi/L, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends having a radon mitigation system installed.
How Can We Tell Whether There Is a Radon Issue?
Testing for radon may be done in several different ways. Although there are sophisticated computerized, high-tech, and pricey systems that can monitor radon levels continuously, most radon tests make use of a collector that accumulates the radon effects over days, weeks, or even months. Radon levels may fluctuate temporarily due to variables including ventilation and weather. Radon levels in a house may change throughout the day and even during a single hour. To acquire the most reliable findings, it may be essential to conduct tests over extended periods or perform the same tests many times.
An objective, competent, and certified DIY radon test kit may be had for a reasonable price, and their results can be relied upon, despite the technical expertise necessary to make a sound determination. A homeowner or prospective seller should do a long-term test to get an accurate picture of the typical radon concentration in a residence. Similarly, a home buyer needs quick findings from a radon test to ensure the residence is safe to live in.
If the radon levels are found to be consistently or chronically higher than 4.0 pCi/L, then corrective action should be implemented.
Then What Ought We to Do?
A large number of radon reduction strategies focus on limiting or eliminating radon’s introduction into a dwelling.
The following are examples of typical corrective measures:
—Covering up holes and filling up pipe penetrations in the basement;
—Sealing up the crawl area with plastic and installing a conduit for radon to escape;
Creating a vent pipe and blower to safely release radon gas outside the house through a hole cored out of the basement slab.
Toronto radon removal company have been included in the construction of many newly constructed houses. Yet, this does not mean that they are completely safe from radon exposure. Also, many older houses were constructed before radon was recognized as a problem or mitigation techniques were developed. Seven percent to eight percent of American houses are thought to have dangerously high radon levels.
