What is Radon Gas?
Remember that periodic table of elements you had to memorize? Well, Rn (Radon) is a radioactive noble gas generated by the natural decay of Radium.
Radon is a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings and reportedly causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States alone.[1] Radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, and radon-induced lung cancer is thought to be the 6th leading cause of cancer death overall.
The importance of this information is in the fact that Radon causes lung cancer, asthma, and other ailments, and the fact that it occurs naturally in soil and in the atmosphere.
Depending on how houses are built and ventilated, radon may accumulate in basements and dwellings. The highest average radon concentrations in the U.S. are found in Iowa and in the Appalachian Mountain areas in southeastern Pennsylvania.[36] Some of the highest readings ever have been recorded in the Irish town of Mallow, County Cork prompting local fears regarding lung cancer. Iowa has the highest average radon concentrations in the nation due to significant glaciation that ground the granitic rocks from the Canadian Shield and deposited it as soils making up the rich Iowa farmland.[37] Many cities within the state, such as Iowa City have passed requirements for radon resistant construction in all new homes. A recent study has noted that the counties surrounding Three Mile Island have the highest radon concentrations in the United States and that this may be the cause of the increased lung cancer noted in the region.[38]
ASTM E-2121 is a standard for reducing radon in homes as far as practicable below 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in indoor air. ). Radon test kits are commercially available. The kit includes a collector that the user hangs in the lowest livable floor of the house for 2 to 7 days. The user then sends the collector to a laboratory for analysis. The National Environmental Health Association provides a list of radon measurement professionals. Long term kits, taking collections for up to one year, are also available. An open land test kit can test radon emissions from the land before construction begins.
Knowledge is power, and thanks for reading. As always, you can search over 1000 house plans online at www.nelsondesigngroup.com
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