Over time, uranium in the soil and groundwater breaks down; the result of this process is radon, a radioactive gas that seeps out of the soil. Ordinarily, radon harmlessly dissipates into the atmosphere. However, when uranium breakdown occurs underneath buildings, large amounts of radon gas may become trapped inside those buildings.
While trace amounts of radon aren’t a concern, accumulation of radon within your Twin Cities home can be detrimental to your health. Long-term radon inhalation results in lung damage, and can eventually lead to the development of lung cancer. Here in the United States, radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer, after smoking.
The problem with radon is that this gas is invisible, odorless, and tasteless to humans. Because of this, many people have a radon problem in their homes and don’t know it until they begin to experience health issues.
If you’re worried about radon in your home in the Twin Cities area, your first step should be to confirm whether or not your home has dangerous levels of radon gas. Conduct a radon test – you can either do it yourself with a store-bought kit or hire a professional to perform the test. Perform this test in the basement or lowest level of your home, where radon levels tend to be highest. Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). A radon level higher than 4 pCi/L in your home is a cause for concern.
If you find that your home has dangerous levels of radon, your best option is to get help from a radon mitigation company in the Twin Cities metro. These trained professionals can install an effective radon mitigation system to extract excess radon gas from your home.
Radon Mitigation in Minneapolis / St. Paul MN.