What Causes Radon Gas In Houses?

Radon gas occurs naturally in soil.
Radon can enter any home, regardless of how old your building is, its structural integrity, location (on the ground, in a crawlspace, or a cellar), or whether or not it is sealed.
Radon levels are high in houses of all shapes and sizes, and consistent worldwide.
The only way to determine the radon level in your home is through testing. This can be done by yourself using a DIY testing kit or by consulting experts.

How Does Radon Gas Enter A House?

Radon is formed when radioactive elements such as radium and radium decay.
It can enter your home through various channels, including cracks and wall gaps.
During the construction of houses, the foundation often comes in contact with this radioactive element, which, when it decays, finds its way into the building through holes in the foundation.

Radon gas can also enter your home if your basement is in contact with rocks and natural stones such as granite containing this radioactive element.
This dangerous gas can also be found in well water because wells sourced from an aquifer are in contact with the soil and rocks where Radon gas is present.
When such water is used in the home for washing, bathing, and other activities, it builds up the Radon gas concentration in your home.

Combating Radon Gas In Houses

The Department of Housing and Urban Development suggests taking the following extra steps to protect yourself against a radon problem and reduce the risk of developing lung cancer due to excessive radon gas levels in your house: 

1. Open some windows and make use of fans and ducts to get more air circulating through your home. Any form of a home's natural ventilation system is simply a short-term measure for reducing radon. 
   
2. Fill gaps in walls and flooring using plaster, cement, or other suitable materials. Get in touch with the radon office in your state to get recommendations for reputable local contractors. Always retest after finishing to ensure that your radon issue has been resolved. 
   
3. Inquire about radon-resistant building practices when purchasing a new home. Including these features in new homes is almost always less expensive and easier than adding them later.
   
4. Quit smoking and dissuade others from doing so in your household. Smoking drastically raises the risk of lung cancer. ​
   

Radon Testing At Home

The only sure way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure is to have your home tested. To reduce the risk of radon problems, you can test for and reduce elevated radon levels by doing the following:

Buying A Radon Testing Kit

You can test your home using a ​DIY Radon Test Kit or hire radon reduction, assessment, and mitigation services to do the testing for you (This may cost you more, but radon mitigation is the best way to combat radon). 

Putting Your House Or Workplace To The Test ​

It shouldn't take you too long to carry out the test, and it's inexpensive and straightforward. It entails opening a box and placing a small measuring instrument in a room for a specified amount of time.
Short-term testing could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Long-term testing could take up to 90 days. The longer the test takes, the more relevant the results are to your environment and way of life.

Sending The Radon Detection Kit To The Right Sources

Follow the testing kit package instructions to determine where to submit the device for results.

What Effects Does Radon Exposure Have On Health?

According to the EPA, in the United States, radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung disease. Many homes have high levels of radon, which may increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular problems.
Radonite enters the lungs whenever anyone breathes in radon. Radon and its decay products emit radiation in the form of beta and gamma rays. When radioactive compounds in the body emit alpha particles, they may be hazardous.
Alpha particles could harm already vulnerable lung cells, increasing the likelihood of lung cancer.

Important Things To Note

Radon Is Not Hazardous Outside, But It Is Very Poisonous When Enclosed Or Inside

Radon concentration is often higher inside houses than outdoors because there is less indoor air and less room for radon gas to scatter and escape.
Although radon exposure may occur in any kind of structure, Radon levels are often higher in cellars, vaults, and living areas in direct contact with the soil, Homes with good insulation and tight seals are more prone to accumulating radon to dangerous levels.

Radon Gas Traces May Be Found In Springs, Wells, And Boreholes That Provide Groundwater ​

Radon exposure may occur through the consumption of polluted water, but inhaling radon is usually more dangerous.
It is more common to find elevated radon levels in groundwater such as springs as opposed to surface water such as lakes and streams.
Radon levels in groundwater may be higher in homes that use that water source than in water that has been processed at a treatment plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Test My House For Radon?

Yes. If you live in a place where radon levels are high, you need to have your home tested. 
The EPA believes that 6 million households in the United States now have hazardous radon levels.
You can test for radon by employing an expert or purchasing a do-it-yourself test kit from a reliable radon test kit shop.
Most radon gas testing kits include two-day or ninety-day tests that must be returned to the manufacturer for results. 

Where Does Most Of The Radon In Our Homes Come From? ​

Radon may enter a building mostly through the earth or through cracks, construction joints, and openings.
Radon gases are produced by soils and minerals. Excess radon may enter your house through water, building materials, and gas sources.

What Is The Impact Of Radon On The Skin?

Continuous skin exposure to high radon levels can lead to skin cancer. Radon emits carcinogenic radiation. Although this substance is neither invisible nor colorless, it might create issues for homeowners.
Radon is among the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and Canada. It may be visible at ocean level once it has been extracted from the soil.
At low quantities, it readily evaporates outside and is typically not dangerous.

How Frequently Should My House Be Tested? ​

Environmental agencies recommend getting a radon test done before purchasing a property, after significant renovations, after a reduction or mitigation system has been put in place, and every two years after that.

Final Thoughts

Given the numerous ways this radioactive gas can enter your homes, such as leaks and cracks, Radon gas exposure should be taken seriously.
You shouldn’t wait until things are critical before conducting a test and taking precautions to reduce this threat to a safe level.
According to the American Cancer Society, long-term exposure can damage lung tissue, increase the risk of developing lung cancer, and cause other health effects.
With the option of a DIY Testing Kit, it is now simple to carry out this process and protect your family and loved ones.