Where and how does radon get into drinking water? Radon in drinking water is a significant health hazard, though a lesser hazard than radon in indoor air. Homes supplied with drinking water from a private well, and community water systems that use wells as water sources have a greater risk of exposure to radon in…
One can get an idea as to how great a concern radon may be in a house by learning about the geology of the surrounding site, along with the area’s radon potential. If a house is in an area with a high potential for radon, then chances are that the house may have an indoor…
Most of the public’s exposure to natural radiation comes from radon, which can be found in homes, schools and office buildings. The illustration shows the sources of radon that can accumulate in buildings. Most radon in homes comes from radon in the soil that seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation or slab. The…
All homes could benefit from having a radon-reduction system. However, it is especially cost-effective to install the features in homes with the greatest potential for high radon levels. The potential for elevated radon levels is not uniform throughout the U.S. The EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have identified areas of the country with the…
Radon-resistant construction techniques can help you prevent radon-related problems in your home. You may already be employing some of these techniques in the house that you’re building. They are generally easy to install. The following are radon-resistant construction techniques. Gas-Permeable Layer Usually, a 4-inch layer of clean, coarse gravel is used beneath the slab to…
You can easily draw radon away and help prevent radon from entering the home with the following basic steps. You may already be employing many of these techniques in the homes that you build. All of the techniques have additional benefits associated with them, and they are very easy to install. The following are some…
All homes have some type of radon entry pathway. There are four main factors that permit radon to seep into homes: Uranium is present in the soil nearly everywhere in the United States. The soil is permeable enough to allow radon to migrate into a home through the slab, basement or crawlspace. There are pathways…
Radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low- and medium-dose exposures in people’s homes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, in many countries. The facts… Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of…
Since the beginning of time, all living creatures have been exposed to radiation. We live in a radioactive world. There are many natural sources of radiation that have been present since the Earth was formed. In the last century, we have added somewhat to this natural background radiation with artificial sources. However, the naturally occurring…
What is Radon? Radon is a gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. Radioactive decay is a natural, spontaneous process in which an atom of one element decays or breaks down to form another element by losing atomic particles (protons, neutrons, or electrons). When solid radium decays to form radon gas, it…