Radon Poisioning
By Laura Boury
What is Radon?
Radon is a gas that forms when uranium decays. It can be found in rocks,soil, and sometimes groundwater. Radon is also odorless and tasteless, making it hard to detect without equipment
Effects of radon poisoning
According to the EPA, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It causes 20,000 deaths every year, witch means you should do something to prevent radon poisoning, such as scanning and treating your home.
How radon enters your home
The EPA says that radon can enter your home in the following ways
- Cracks in solid floors and walls
- Construction joints
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply
Radon can enter homes through almost every crack or gap, and can even get in your water supply. This means that radon can be almost everywhere and you must check for it. Radon cannot be detected without equipment, so testing your home is very important
How to prevent Radon poisioning
- Purchasing a radon test kit
- Testing your home or office
- Sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon levels
- Fixing your home if radon levels are high
If everyone does this to their home or office building, it would drastically reduce cases of lung cancer. This would improve the quality of life for many people, and make it well worth the money spent on testing your home.
Works Cited
- "Radon in the Home." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.
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