People often wonder about whether they should have their new home tested for radon. Is it all hype, or is it really something to worry about? Dave Park, owner of Advantage Inspection in Raleigh, North Carolina, talks here about why you should have a radon inspection in your home every year.
Okay, here is the official slant: Radon (pronounced ‘rey-don’) is a chemical element with the symbol Rn and atomic number 86. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is formed from the decay of radium and is considered a health hazard. Breathing high concentrations of radon can cause lung cancer. Thus, radon is considered a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, radon could be the second most frequent cause of lung cancer. Cigarette smoking is still at the top. Radon-induced lung cancer the sixth-leading cause of cancer death overall, causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.
What does this mean to you,? It means that you should have your new home tested for radon, along with your regular home inspection. It means that you should have your existing home tested yearly.
You breathe radon everyday. It is in the air you are breathing now. It was in the air you breathed yesterday, and it will be in the air you breathe tomorrow. But, radon is a problem when it’s trapped inside your home. High levels of accumulation and exposure increase the probability of lung cancer. So, why risk it?
You will not be able to escape radon, but you can remediate it from your home and not allow the accumulation of this gas in your home. Lowering the levels in your home can costs $500 to $1,500. Testing can cost $50 to $250. Call your real estate professional and ask about radon. Call a licensed home inspector who works with a certified lab and ask the questions. Or go to the local handyman store and buy a kit yourself. No matter which way you go, you will be glad you did.
