How safe is your home? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself year after year, as some of the most hazardous exposures occur right under your nose when you least expect it. From harmful chemicals to air pollutants, it seems like there’s no escape to the damage that can be done over time. Thankfully, health contractors work night and day to identify the source of these problems and reduce your probability for illness.
What Are Common Home Hazards?
Awareness is the first step toward staying safe and healthy. Your home has the potential of containing everything from harmful chemicals to damaging minerals that can negatively impact the physical and mental health of you, your children and your pets. Lead paint has long since been a concern of many due to older houses having lead-based paint and pipes — this substance has been known to cause nerve damage, birth deficiencies and learning disabilities if not checked. Even now many homeowners are seeking out the support of a radon testing contractor.
What Is Radon?
Radon testing is necessary to determine if you have radon present in your home or nearby. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is known to cause a host of debilitating physical illnesses and, as such, needs to be identified and removed as soon as possible. A radon testing contractor is a professional that can immediately pinpoint the source of potential radon in your immediate area.
How Common Is Radon?
Radon is, unfortunately, more common than you might expect. Studies have shown one in 15 American homes have radon levels either at or above the EPA action level — according to the U.S. EPA, nearly one in three homes checked in three states as well as three Native lands have had screening levels determining the presence of radon exposure.
What Are The Side-Effects Of Radon Exposure?
There are multiple side-effects that come with radon exposure, many of which are severe in the short-term. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States alone, with some scientists estimating that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by nearly 4% by lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s current action level.
How Can I Reduce Radon Levels In My Home?
Contacting a radon testing contractor is essential if you want to benefit from radon mitigation services. Long-term tests are able to determine the average concentration by more than 90 days, while short-term detectors can measure radon levels for two to 90 days depending on the device used. Passive systems of mitigation have been found to reduce indoor radon levels by an impressive 50% — when radon ventilation fans are added this number can be even higher. As long as you remain proactive and use the resources at your disposal you won’t have to worry about the negative side-effects of radon. Visit with your local radon testing contractor today and see how they can help.
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