Downey Inspections uses approved testing equipment and procedures to provide an accurate report regarding the radon levels in your home.
What is Radon?
Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas released when some naturally occurring radioactive materials break down in rocks, soil and water and can build up to dangerous levels inside homes or buildings.
How Does Radon Get In My Home?
Any home can have a radon problem. Whether your home is drafty or well-sealed, radon can still build up and get trapped inside. Radon can enter the home through several ways.
- Cracks in solid floors and walls
- Construction joints
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supplies
How Does Radon Affect My Health?
When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. It may take years before health problems appear.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. Currently, there are no conclusive data on whether children are at greater risks than adults from radon.
The chances of getting lung cancer are higher if your home has elevated radon levels and you smoke or burn fuels that increase indoor particles. Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
- How much radon is in your home–the location where you spend most of your time (for example, the main living and sleeping areas).
- The amount of time you spend in your home
- Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked
- Whether you burn wood, coal, or other substances that add particles to the indoor air
For more information about health concerns, see EPA’s Health Risk of Radonexternal icon web page.
What Can I Do About Radon?
The most important step to take regarding radon is testing your home. It is recommended test for radon during the home purchase process. Downey Inspections uses approved testing equipment and procedures to provide an accurate report regarding the radon levels in your home. With that in hand, informed decisions can be made on potential mitigation procedures.
Downey Inspections is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and services the general northeast Nebraska area. Call or email us for more information or simply tell your realtor you wish to use Downey Inspections.
Adapted from Radon and Your Health: Get The Facts https://www.cdc.gov/radon/radon-facts.html
Downey Inspections is a licensed radon measurement business in Nebraska.
Jon Downey is a licensed Radon Measurement Specialist in Nebraska, license #526.