In the United States, radon is a hazardous gas that is rapidly spreading into homes. A person can go into a house filled with the gas and not notice any odour, taste, touch, or visibility of it. Only by conducting a radon test in your house can you be sure there is no radon present. There is a lot of information available concerning radon, and residents of West Virginia can rest easy knowing that help is at hand to get the gas removed from their homes.

Intro to Radon

Uranium, the source of radon gas, is present in many natural environments, including soil, rock, and even water. Over time, the uranium will degrade, releasing radon gas, which is harmful if breathed in for too long or in large enough quantities. Exposure to radon gas raises the risk of illness, although radon gas can be found anywhere.

Since radon has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals, it is deemed hazardous.

Caner of the Lungs

Radon is a carcinogen that can damage lung tissue and has a history of doing so. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that radon is responsible for 1 in 15 occurrences of lung cancer worldwide. Two thousand and one deaths a year are attributed to radon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Because of This, Even Trace Amounts of Radon Are Dangerous

Many people mistakenly believe that their home does not contain radon, or that if it did, the concentration was too low to cause any harm. Many houses may not have radon, but that is no reason to avoid testing your own. If your home tests positive for radon, you can get rid of the problem and safeguard your livelihood.

"There is no doubt that radon is a carcinogen. This study provides further evidence that even brief exposure to radon can cause lung cancer "According to Tom Kelly, head of the EPA's Indoor Environments Branch, this is a major problem.

"Low and medium levels of radon exposure in houses are the primary cause of lung cancer in the United States. In many nations, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, right behind tobacco use "a World Health Organization doctor named Maria Neira noted.

The state of West Virginia

Air Chek, Inc. reports that the average radon concentration in American homes is 1.3 pCi/L (Picocuries), and that this concentration is maintained in the majority of West Virginia dwellings. Although the EPA and WHO found that exposure to radon at levels below the warning threshold was still harmful, this threshold was raised to 4.0 pCi/L in recent years.

The radon concentration in West Virginia is relatively high. Of the state's fifty counties, only six have a low enough radon risk to be considered safe for habitation. Here are some numbers for a few West Virginia counties. The purpose of these numbers is not to frighten you, and they do not indicate that your home has radon just because you live in one of these counties or anywhere else in West Virginia. Actually, just because your neighbor's home contains radon does not guarantee that your home has as well. Thus, it is recommended that you have your home tested, as evidenced by the state-wide prevalence of high levels, which is supported by the available statistics. The most sensible course of action is to err on the side of caution.

The Environmental Protection Agency has established three radon risk zones: high, moderate, and low. Counties on the state's northern and northeastern edges face a particularly high risk. The six counties of Kanawha, Boone, Logan, Mingo, Wyoming, and McDowell make up the minor concern zone. In general, the threat level is medium across the board. Some examples from each level, starting with the ground floor, are provided below.

2.8% Above 4.0 pCi/L - 17% in Kanawha County
The range of 2-4 pCi/L (29%

Three point seven picocuries per litre; 31% of residents of Marion County and higher than 4.0 picocuries per litre
At concentrations between 2 and 3.9 pCi/L, 23 percent

Among those with a level greater than or equal to 4.0 pCi/L in Preston County, 44%
2% to 3.9 pCi/L; 15%.

Your local professional Radon removal toronto can reduce the radon levels in your house and safeguard you and your family from exposure to radon toxicity. Contact Basement Systems of West Virginia if you need a radon professional to assess your home and implement radon mitigation strategies. In addition to radon mitigation, they also provide other home renovation services in West Virginia, such as basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, and foundation fixing.