A radioactive gas, radon is naturally produced when uranium starts decaying. It is possible to be exposed to radon if you drink well water or if there is radon present in the ground in the area where you live. Radon is dangerous because breathing air with high radon concentrations significantly increases your risks of developing lung cancer.
Damages Cells
Radon is a dangerous gas because it causes damages to your cells. You are in danger of developing lung cancer if you live in a home with high radon levels. Smokers are at even greater risk of the combined damage of smoking with breathing air that contains high radon levels represent a serious health hazard.
Indoor air with high radon levels is especially dangerous if you have young children because they are more sensitive to the damages caused by this gas. Children who are exposed to high radon levels are more at risk for some respiratory conditions and have higher chances of developing lung cancer later in life.
Exposure to high levels of radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among Americans who do not smoke. It is estimated that over 20,0000 of individuals die from a lung cancer that was caused by exposure to radon every year.
Invisible and Odorless
Radon is dangerous because you will not notice that there are high radon levels in the air you breathe. This gas has no odors, and you will not notice any immediate side effects caused by exposure to radon. You might live for years in a home with high radon levels without realizing that it is affecting your health.
Water Contamination
Radon is also dangerous because it can be present in the water you drink. You need to have well water tested regularly. If you drink tap water, you should know that the water in your area might contain high radon levels if this gas can be found in the soil.
What if You Suspect Radon?
The best thing to do is to have your home tested for radon. There is no way of knowing how much of this dangerous gas you are breathing in until you have some tests done. It is possible to reduce your exposure to this gas by making a few changes to your home.
Fixing a radon problem is actually not too complicated. Check out this video to see how it is corrected.
You should also consider quitting smoking since the combination of cigarette smoke and radon can be disastrous for your health. You should also know that second-hand smoke can be even more devastating when it is combined with radon.
Have your home and well water tested for radon if you think you might be exposed to this gas. Making a few changes to your home and quitting smoking will dramatically improve the quality of the air you breathe and will reduce your chances of developing lung cancer. This is especially important if you have children or elderly since they are most sensitive to radon. Contact us today.
