Anyone Know A Person Who Has Been Sick Or Died From Radon Gas?
I live in CT on the coast, rich in some areas with radon gas. When buying a house a Radon test is recommended. If over the test of 48 house the average amount of radon gas is over the law limit, the seller is required to put in a radon system which is almost $2,000. and rather unsightly, and requires maintenence My sources say there is no documented proof of death by cause of radon, and another engineer friend took a radon system apart and said it really seems to be a bunch of baloney. I am asking you for true and documented proof. Thanks.
How Can One Get to Suffer From Radon Poisoning?
Thousands of people are affected by radon poisoning every year, and almost half the lung cancer cases are triggered by exposure to this radioactive element. How can one get to suffer from radon poisoning? The problem is that this gas is both odorless and colorless; it gets into our homes through cracks and openings in the basement floors and the low-ground areas, accumulating in such enclosed spaces in extremely dangerous amounts. Basically, radon poisoning refers to the impact of the alpha particles resulting from the decay of the gas on the lung cells: cellular division is no longer possible and the deep organ tissues are affected.
The symptoms of radon poisoning, which are the same with those of lung cancer include persistent cough that keeps getting worse, coughing up blood, breathing difficulties, chest pains, wheezing and recurring infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Unfortunately the survival rate of lung cancer patients is not higher than 15%, which only leads to the conclusion that radon poisoning is lethal on the long term. The important thing is to act before you are the victim of radon poisoning: any home owner should test the house for radon gas levels by means of very easy to use devices.
Which are the most exposed geographical areas to radon poisoning? Data concerning such matters is available on many Internet sites, particularly since radon exposure is closely connected to natural levels of radiation specific to a certain geographical area. Therefore, people living in parts of the globe where uranium is extracted for instance, or which have been labeled as radioactive, are more exposed to radon poisoning than others. If outdoors, radon gas levels are completely harmless and insignificant in terms of quantity, not the same thing can be said about indoors accumulation. This is the one hazard everyone fears most.
Some studies have revealed a certain connection between lung cancer development in heavy smokers and people who have been the victims of radon poisoning. Apparently, if the two issues overlap, chances of survival grow close to nil and the degradation of the lung tissue is far more rapid. The only way to stop radon poisoning is by preventing it; thus, make sure the ventilation systems are in good condition, avoid sleeping or living in basement areas and have the home tested for radon gas as often as you can, particularly if high gas levels have been discovered before.
Indoor Radon Gas Limit Reduced to 2.7 From 4.0
Radon gas has been identified as the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers according to recent studies conducted throughout the world. The World Health Organization states that as many as 14% of the lung cancer cases in many countries (including the United States) are caused by exposure to radon gas.
Protecting Your Property From Radon Gas
If you have a basement or cellar in your home where the walls have direct contact with the ground you may be at risk of breathing in radon gas created from decaying uranium. Inhaling large amounts of this gas has been linked to lung cancer because of its high radioactive properties.
There is a document that can inform you of areas that have this gas in the soil; you can check this document to know if your area is at high risk. This is always advised for builders that are erecting new properties to check the area for the levels of radon gas because of the effects it has on a person.
However, there are ways to protect your property should it be unveiled that you are in a high-risk area of radon gas. There are companies that can offer you their professional service to come and protect your home with methods that reduce the release of radon gas into your property. This includes a range of processes to eliminate the risk of radon gas entering your environment and causing potential harm to those in the home.
To protect your property depends on the levels of the radon gas.
Basic Protection - A membrane is laid across the footprint of the building to prevent the escape of gas. To help this to be completely successful, the radon barrier should be heat welded. Taping the membrane does not give enough protection, and leaking of gas may pose the risk if leakage.
Full Protection ? Ventilation may be necessary to have the right protection against the emission of radon gas. This is conjunction to the floor membrane to give full protection of areas that are high in radon gas emission. Block and beam flooring is an ideal solution to passive ventilation system.
There are other methods that are for severe cases if this flooring is not possible. This includes having a sump fitted beneath the foundations so any gas in the soil collects at this point and is extracted.
A qualified radon gas company will be able to advise on the effects of radon gas and therefore the solutions that your home can have for you and your occupants safety.
Protecting Your Home from Radon: A Step by Step Manual for Radon Reduction
Buy Protecting Your Home from Radon: A Step by Step Manual for Radon Reduction at Amazon