RADON GAS
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is a naturally occurring product of uranium breakdown. It is found in rocks, soil, and water.
There are no SAFE levels of radon exposure. |
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RADON CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS IF UNDETECTED.Homes and well water must be tested for radon because radon is invisible. You cannot smell it or see it. Being exposed to high levels of radon gas greatly increases your chances of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer from radon is PREVENTABLE!
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Exposure to radon gas is responsible for
21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. 1 Person dies every 25 minutes from radon induced lung cancer. |
RADON IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER! |
YOUR CHANCES OF DEVELOPING LUNG CANCER ARE EXTREMELY HIGH IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF RADON GAS AND SMOKE OR USE TOBACCO!
ANY BUILDING MAY HAVE A RADON PROBLEM
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strongly recommends taking action to reduce radon levels indoors if air levels exceed 4 pCi/L or above. Action should also be considered at levels of 2 pCi/L or above. Radon water measurements have a higher level of acceptable exposure range. However, there has been NO real determination of a safe level of exposure. |
Radon seeps into homes through cracks in foundations, basements, and floors and can become trapped inside at unsafe levels. Radon can also enter homes through water used from private wells and can contaminate the air each time water is used. Turning on the faucet or flushing the toilet can greatly impact the amount of radon gas in the air creating dangerous levels hazardous to health. The Maine Indoor Air Quality Council reports that this happens in Maine more than in any other state!
An estimated 1 in 3 Homes in Maine have radon levels higher than 4 pCi/L! |
RADON IN MAINE
Maine has some of the highest levels of radon in the country! Of 16 counties in Maine, 14 are designated as zone 1, the highest zone of radon, indicating an average of 4 pCi/L of radon or higher. The other 4 counties in Maine are classified as zone 2, the second highest radon level zone. This indicates an average radon level of 2 - 4 pCi/L. NO counties were classified as being in zone 1, the lowest radon zone.
What does this mean?
ALL Mainers are at risk for lung cancer!! If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer! High radon levels over time increase your chances of getting lung cancer even if you don't smoke. If you smoke or use tobacco, your chances are 10-20 times higher. TEST YOUR HOME FOR RADON!
What does this mean?
ALL Mainers are at risk for lung cancer!! If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer! High radon levels over time increase your chances of getting lung cancer even if you don't smoke. If you smoke or use tobacco, your chances are 10-20 times higher. TEST YOUR HOME FOR RADON!
TEST AND FIX YOUR HOME!
The only way to know if there is radon in your home is to test for it! Relatively inexpensive radon testing kits can be purchased at local hardware stores or online. These "do-it-yourself" kits generally have you leave out a testing canister or other testing material like charcoal absorbers for a period of time from days to a week or more. There are two types of tests, long term and short term. The long term tests are more reliable indicators, but short term will give you a general idea of your exposure. These "do-it-yourself" kits are mailed into a laboratory for analysis and results are either mailed, emailed to you, or retrieved from an online account. Kits cost on average $20-60 dollars. Some kits include the laboratory fee in the purchase price and others have an additional fee, so shopping around may be important. Alternatively, a professional radon tester and mitigator can come to your home to test and fix any problems found. This is a more expensive option averaging $100 or more for testing. Find tips on testing and working with radon professionals here:
Once your test results come back you must decide to fix your home or not. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends fixing homes with 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or more, and strongly considering fixing your home if there are levels of radon at 2 pCi/L or above. Using a professional registered to treat radon problems is the best course of action. Generally sealing and venting are the principles behind the differing treatment options. Homes should be retested after having mitigation systems in place.
Remember, you can get lung cancer even if you have never smoked cigarettes or used tobacco. Radon gas exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Reduce your risk of getting lung cancer by testing and treating your home and water! |
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