Do you have radon in your home? That’s the question every homeowner should know the answer to. The upper Midwest has some of the highest radon concentrations in the country and that is why homeowners or buyers should be aware. Most people don’t think they have radon because they can’t smell, taste, see, or touch it. It is silent and deadly.

So what is radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter your home and cause serious health risks for the entire family. Most soils contain uranium, which over time breaks down to produce radium and polonium. Eventually, polonium is released with radon, creating a high level of toxicity in the air and water it infuses.

There is no blueprint for how radon enters the home; it is very persistent and most commonly enters the home through cracks in the slab, floor and wall joints, exposed soil, and sometimes even water from a well.

Exposure to radon gas increases the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the EPA, an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States are due to radon exposure, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon gas and its airborne breakdown products are breathed into the lungs, where they break down further and emit alpha particles. Alpha particles release a small burst of energy, which is absorbed by nearby lung tissue. This results in damage to lung cells. While the effects of cigarette smoking are much more recognizable compared to the effects of radon exposure, there is very little difference between the severity of these two potential dangers. How does cigarette smoking compare to radon exposure? Watch this!

1 pCi / L of radon equals 2.5 cigarettes a day! Multiply a home’s radon levels by 2.5 and understand that any homeowner could easily experience the effects of smoking a “pack a day” if radon levels are at 4.0 pCi / L, the minimum action level set by the Agency for Environmental Protection.

So now you know that radon is no joke, but how do you know if you have radon in your home? That’s the easy part. The American Lung Association, EPA, and the Surgeon General recommend testing every home for radon. Radon tests are simple and relatively inexpensive.

There are several ways to test, but these three are probably the most common:

-A short term kit allows you to get a basic reading in 48 hours, it’s like a quick snapshot of your situation. Radon test kits can be purchased at your local Lowes or hardware store. Once the test is done, simply send the kit back to the lab and they will send you the results.

-A CRM test stands for Continuous Radon Monitoring and this is done by contacting your local state certified radon testing and radon mitigation specialist. You can find one on your county health department website. In this test they will place a small electronic monitor, slightly smaller than a shoe box, and garnish the results for you within 48 hours. This test is more of a live movie than a snapshot because it takes a reading every hour and offers a pretty solid range.

-A Long-term tests stay in your home for more than 90 days. Alpha path and electrical detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give a more accurate annual average radon level than a short-term test for your home. Short-term testing and CRM methods are probably most commonly used when buying or selling a home.

Once all the tests have been done and your radon levels are at 4.0 pCi / L, the minimum action level set by the Environmental Protection Agency or higher, radon mitigation will be the next step. Radon mitigation is generally a simple process, but it should be done by a state-certified radon professional. The design of each radon mitigation system varies depending on the structure of your home. Houses are generally classified according to the design of their foundations. The existence of a basement, basement, or slab determines the proper mitigation system that is needed. These systems will typically cost between $ 900.00 and $ 1,500.00, depending on your needs.

Radon levels in the Upper Midwest are very high, but the effects of radon can be detected and mitigated to help reduce the risk of lung cancer for you and your family. Remember to test your home and have it taken care of asap. Radon deaths can be reduced, but only if you help.