Risks of Radon; Radon & Lung Cancer
Why worry about radon?
~Radon poses such a big risk because it is impossible to detect on your own. It is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. There is no ability to detect it without a test or device designed to measure for it. As Radon gas decays into radioactive particles they become Alpha particles. They have a short half life, but do a lot of damage during their time if not mitigated for. These decay products are also primarily how we test through different devices, and different lengths of time depending on the needs of the building, customer, and situation.
~The particles can get trapped in your lungs while you breathe. They then break down further, releasing small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime.
~While not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer, and the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years, you won't know if you are someone who will develop the disease until it's too late, so mitigation is your best defense with elevated levels If you smoke the risks of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon dramatically increase.
https://sosradon.org/files/sosradon/citizensguide%20risk%20charts.pdf
~Radon will predominantly come from decomposition of the decay products from uranium and radium in soil around and under your home. You are likely to have your greatest risks of radon exposure at home, however you can be exposed at work, or anywhere else you spend time that isn't properly mitigated with a high concentration of the gas seeping through porous foundation. Many buildings in Denver and the entire state of CO will test high in Radon as we are a level 1 state. If your child is spending significant amount of time at childcare make sure that location has been properly mitigated, as their bodies are even more susceptible.
~Along with the gas from the decay products under and around your home, there is a chance of some exposure of radon from water. Usually this will happen from well water situations when this is the case. (Still Radon poses the most risk in your soil.) Based on a National Academy of Science report on radon in drinking water, EPA estimates that radon in drinking water causes about 168 cancer deaths per year, 89 percent from lung cancer caused by breathing radon released from water, and 11 percent from stomach cancer caused by drinking radon-containing water. You are likely not going to have an issue on a public water supply, but if you are concerned; call your water company and ask for a water report.
~We know that it is a personal choice whether someone chooses to smoke, but it is not a choice to be exposed to radon, as it is not something you can purposely choose to put into your body. Our mission is to help our clients have the choice to be able to affordably and confidently mitigate their homes, and eliminate this concern to their health for their families and themselves. We know that our rates are cost effective and affordable. We do our very best to keep costs down and manage expenses.
However, if the cost of a system is outside your ability, please do not be discouraged; we have programs here in Colorado to assist with this expense. Because radon is a true health risk and concern.
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/low-income-radon-mitigation-assistance
~It has been shown that children and their developing systems, and higher respiratory rate, make them especially susceptible to radon exposure. For many families, this is reason enough to test, and mitigate, even below the actionable level.