How to Protect Against Radon Exposure
MARY SCHARFE
What is Radon?
Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, colorless, inert, radioactive gas. It occurs from the natural breakdown of the element Uranium, and it travels through the soil to enter your home. Few people know that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. Below are a few factors that could increase the chances of you getting cancer from radon:
How much radon is in your home
How much time you spent in that home
If you are a smoker or have ever smoked
And if you have a genetic predisposition to cancer
Are There Regulations Surrounding Radon Exposure?
Currently, there are no laws in Kansas that require people to test for (or to fix) high levels of radon if found in the home. However, Kansas does require state certification to provide professional radon measurement, mitigation, and laboratory services in the state. And there are radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) codes in Manhattan, Junction City, Topeka, and Salina. The good news is, a third of homes sold in the Manhattan area are radon tested at the time of purchase, according to the Kansas State University Engineering Extension Radon Program. And the cost of installing a mitigation system can typically be negotiated with the seller during a home inspection period if there is a radon test.
How Do I Protect Myself from Radon Exposure?
You cannot predict radon levels based on your heating system, foundation type, age of the structure, style of your house, or the presence of a sump pump or cracks. To combat radon exposure, you should do the following:
Test for radon every two years because there is no safe level of radon exposure. Things can change over a period of time, so check that the radon levels in your home are acceptable and that your mitigation system continues to operate as desired.
Install a radon mitigation system in your home to reduce radon levels. Fixing almost all radon problems is easy. Reducing radon levels can be done by installing a radon mitigation system in your home. You can even test for radon on your own and mail in a test for results. Or you can call a professional. The standard test lasts 48 hours, and the test unit is in the lowest livable level of the home.
Talk about testing for radon with your realtor. You don’t have to be in the process of buying or selling a home to test for radon. We at The Alms Group can answer your questions and help you find professional services available to test for radon.
Resources for you: 1-800-693-5343 www.kansasradonprogram.org
