You've probably heard of it but do you know what it really is and what its true effects can be?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. The amount of radon in the soil depends on complex soil chemistry, that varies from one house to the next. Radon levels in the soil range from a few hundred to several thousands of pCi/L. The amount of radon that escapes from the soil to enter the house depends on the weather, soil porosity, soil moisture, and the suction within the house.

It usually enters a house or building through openings in the ground and can concentrate in the house causing health issues ranging from allergies, frequent colds, respiratory problems to lung cancer.  It's a serious situation that commands your attention.  Testing will tell you the amount of radon in your home and if it is too high, remedies are needed.  

Scientists believe radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. When radon decays, it shoots off alpha particles. These are small, heavy, electrically charged, sub-atomic particles consisting of two protons and two neutrons. If an alpha particle strikes the chromosomes in a lung cell, it could alter the way that cell reproduces. Our bodies immune system should recognize and destroy these mutant cells before they can multiply over the next 10 to 20 years into a recognizable cancerous growth.

Personal story....My neighbor's son had asthma and frequent colds since birth.  They decided to sell and the new owners had the home tested for radon, when they learned the amounts were too high.  Of course the situation was remedied but the amazing thing was that the boy, now eight, no longer has any symptoms of asthma and is very rarely ill with a cold.  Radon gas caused his illness.   I have since checked my home and the levels are acceptable, which shows that one house can be dangerously high and the house next door have little to no traces of it.

Houses act like large chimneys. As the air in the house warms, it rises to leak out the attic openings and around the upper floor windows. This creates a small suction at the lowest level of the house, pulling the radon out of the soil and into the house. You can test this on a cold day by opening a top floor window an inch. You will notice warm air from the house rushing out that opening; yet, if you open a basement window an inch, you will feel the cold outside air rushing in. This suction is what pulls the radon out of the soil and into the house.

You might think caulking the cracks and the openings in the basement floor will stop the radon from entering the house. However, scientific studies show, it only takes enough unsealed cracks or pin holes in the caulking to equal a hole 1/2" in diameter to let all the radon in. It is unlikely that caulking the accessible cracks and joints will permanently seal the openings radon needs to enter the house. The radon levels will still likely remain unchanged.

Fortunately, there are other extremely effective means of keeping radon out of your home. Throughout the country, several million people have already tested for radon. Some houses tested as high as 2,000-3,000 pCi/L; yet, there hasn't been one house that could not mitigate to an acceptable level. Mitigation usually costs between $500-$1500.

Did you know....that Indiana home builders, unlike most other states, do not use CertainTeed Form-a-Drain during home construction.  This one additional step could prevent the concentration of radon within a home and possibly prevent many illnesses.