Tampa, FL – Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, said Pillar To Post Home Inspectors in a news release.
In the United States, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon related and in Canada that number stands at approximately 3,000.
Radon, a dangerous gas, is colourless, odourless, tasteless and radioactive. It is formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in soil, rock and ground water.
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in Canada and the U.S. is estimated to have an elevated radon level. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem – this means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements since this secret killer comes from the ground not from construction materials.
Ways radon can get into your home:
- Cracks in solid floors
- Construction joints
- Cracks in walls
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply
Radon testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Inspectors conduct a short term test using a continuous monitor to provide a snapshot of the home to see if it has elevated levels of radon.Testing takes approximately two to three days. Results are provided and interpreted and the report is sent directly to the client. Recommendations will then be made for a mitigation system. Even owners of condominiums, houses built on slabs, and other situations need to check on the air quality and the presence of radon in their living quarters, the service says.
For resources and information on how to contact your local home inspector, visit www.pillartopost.com/radon.
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