The Indiana State Department of Health is warning residents about the dangers of radon, an odorless, tasteless, colorless, but radioactive gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared January National Radon Action Month.
State health officials say the gas is made by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can then get in your home through cracks or gaps in the exterior, and build up in air and drinking water, potentially causing cancer.
The EPA says nearly one out of every 15 homes nationwide has high levels of radon, and it causes around 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. You can protect yourself by having radon testing services check the radon levels in your home. If they’re high, you can have a licensed contractor install mitigation systems to eliminate the problem. Remodeling and construction work can worsen this issue considerably. Even a simple porch column removal still means boring into the ground very close to the property, and can make these gases easier to escape. Therefore, if there is any remodeling or construction work being considered you might want to consider running this kind of testing first.
