Home should be checked for radon

All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our daily lives.

Driving in cars, flying in planes and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are unavoidable; others we accept so as to not restrict our lives; and some we might choose to avoid if we only knew better.

Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

Last week we talked about waterproofing your home using air barriers, vapor barriers and moisture barriers. These waterproofing systems essentially make your home's building envelope air tight — which is a great thing for energy efficiency (keeping your home the temperature you want it to be without too much strain on your HVAC systems).

But tight homes can pose a problem for indoor air quality. Just as they trap the heat in the winter, tight homes can also trap pollutants in the air your family is breathing.

One of the most dangerous indoor air pollutants is radon.

Radon is a gas you can't see, smell or taste. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking.

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

According to the EPA, nearly one out of 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Radon from soil gas is the main cause, but sometimes radon enters the home through well water. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.

Because there is no way to detect radon with the human senses, you should test your home for elevated levels.

The quickest way to do that is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors" and "charcoal liquid scintillation" detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing.