Dangers of Radon Gas in Your Home

Radon isn’t something you can see, touch, or smell, but that doesn’t make it harmless. In fact, it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer outside of smoking cigarettes. With that in mind, you can understand the importance of testing your home. At Total House Inspection in Michigan, our team provides Top Rated Local® radon inspections for homeowners across Oakland, Macomb, and the surrounding counties. Contact us today to schedule your radon inspection.

When uranium is broken down, it’s released into the air and can build up, causing critical long-term health effects. Radon is the naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms when uranium breaks down. It’s frequently found in soil, rock, and water as the breakdown of uranium. Since radon moves from the ground up, it can naturally enter your home and begin to build up inside the enclosed spaces. The only way to know if your home is safe is to have a professional radon inspection performed.

Radon and Your Health

When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs where it gives off radiation. Over time, that can damage the cells and cause lung cancer. Even if you’ve never smoked a cigarette in your entire life, you can still be at risk of developing lung cancer if you don’t have a mitigation system in place to protect yourself from radon.

Symptoms of Radon Exposure

Since radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, you might wonder how to identify if you’ve been exposed to radon. Symptoms of radon poisoning don’t show up right away, unfortunately. They typically become apparent after many years of exposure. A nagging cough, shortness of breath, or a wheezing that doesn’t go away could be symptoms of radon exposure. Other symptoms can include coughing up blood, chest pain, or losing weight without trying. If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor.

There are no routine medical tests that can tell you if you’ve been exposed to too much radon, nor is there any treatment to clear it from your body. When you talk with your doctor, be sure to mention if you think you might have been exposed to radon and if you should have your lungs checked for cancer.

Protect Yourself From Radon

There are some building materials made from natural substances that give off radon, including concrete, wallboard, and granite countertops. The good news is that the amount these sources give off tends to be low and is not likely to raise the overall level of radon in your home to a dangerous level. That being said, it’s still important to have your home tested for radon by a professional. Typically, the inspection will measure levels for several days and send the results to a lab to be evaluated. Radon is measured in picocuries, and anything higher than 4pCi/L requires action.

Top Rated Local® Radon Inspections

Protect yourself and those who live in your home by scheduling a radon inspection with Total House Inspection in Rochester Hills today. Our team has the experience and equipment to perform a thorough test of your home. Contact us today.