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Radon Gas Warning
A simple
test can determine whether radon gas is hiding in your home
Radon, a naturally occurring gas, is
the
second-leading cause of lung
cancer in the
United States, behind smoking, and some studies show it also could be a
contributor to stomach cancer.
But don't count on your
nose to tell you if it's present. The scary part is radon is
undetectable by sight or smell. The only way to know for sure if you're
living with it is to test.
You really need to test
no matter where you live. High levels of the gas have been found in
homes throughout the Midlands and Low country despite 20-year-old
Environmental Protection Agency maps that show those parts of the state
as low-risk areas.
Radon could be
a problem in any home anywhere.
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Naturally occurring uranium breaks down in rock and
soil to form radium.
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Radium breaks down to form radon gas.
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That gas is present at low levels in the atmosphere.
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It can seep into your home and become trapped,
building up to high levels, which can pose a health hazard.
Carl Seville, an
Atlanta-based consultant to the construction industry, said the risk of
radon buildup in homes wasn't as great a couple of decades ago when
homes were not insulated as well as they are now. But with homes being
sealed tighter for energy efficiency, "You have to make sure the radon
is removed from the house," he said.
The solution is simple if
you are building a new house. Your builder can create a system of pipes
under the house that go up through the roof to release any radon that
might be present. A ground cover helps create a path of least resistance
for the air, Seville said. The system costs several hundred dollars.
It's a very inexpensive insurance policy.
In an existing house, the
same system can be installed easily in a house with a crawl space, but
it's a little more challenging with a slab.
The average cost of
fixing a house with high levels of radon is $1,200, according to the EPA
average. The range is $800 to $2,500.
Morrow recommended
testing your home for radon:
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If you've never tested or it has been five years or
longer since you last tested.
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Anytime you complete major renovations that might
have disturbed the soil or
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Convert an unfinished basement into a living space.
National toll-free automated radon
information line:
1-(800)-767-7236
Web site
www.epa.gov/radon
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