Breathing is a bit ignored until you can't do it anymore. We've all experienced the overwhelming need to gulp for air after strenuous exercise, but if you're a victim of lung cancer, that gulping is a minute by minute experience.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency radon gas is the number two cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Number two is right up there. Number one is smoking.
Now smoking is obvious. It's logical that lighting a cigarette and inhaling smoke into one's lungs on a regular basis would cause lung cancer. It's blatant. One can smell the smoke, taste the flavors of the smoke, and feel the burn in the lungs.
Radon on the other hand is sneaky. It has no odor. It's invisible. It's tasteless. It can be inhaled with every breath and not be known until it's too late.
For those who have not heard of radon, it is a radioactive gas which naturally occurs in the soil. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It usually has highest concentrations in basements. It can easily be tested for, and can easily be remediated. Because radon is a gas, expelling it above ground dilutes the radon gas and makes it less dangerous.
The testing can be done by a professional inspector or by the homeowner. There are two kinds of tests. The one done most frequently is "passive" which means nothing is done except to place a dish similar to a petri dish in a protected location in the basement. The canister is left there for 3 days and then covered and removed. It is sent to a lab for testing. The second kind of testing actually takes hourly readings over a 3 day period giving a more accurate measure of the presence of radon.
Ramsey County is considered a Zone 1 location for radon. That means it is very likely radon will be found in Ramsey County basements. Current rates reflect one out of three homes testing to levels that are too high. The test is relatively inexpensive ($8.00 for do it yourselfers and around $150 to hire a test done.) as is the remediation which often costs less than replacing a roof.
For St. Paul home buyers, it's good to have a radon test done as prevention. For home owners, safety is a good reason for making sure your home is clear of this insidious gas.
More info: Ramsey County website; map of radon counties; Ramsey County Public Education radon page.
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Not sure about the breathing thing. I guess we have to do it.
Posted by: Teresa Boardman | June 13, 2007 at 05:48 AM