Colder Weather Increases Radon Danger

November 19, 2014- As colder weather settles in, radon gas becomes a growing concern for homeowners across America. Radon is a result of naturally-occurring uranium breakdown in rocks and soil. The colorless, odorless gas seeps from the ground and can pool in a home, especially when windows remain shut and there is less air circulation.

“Because it’s colder outside and then warmer inside your home, that increases the radon levels,” said Eleanor Divver, radon project coordinator for the state of Utah.

Elevated levels of the gas make colder months the best time to check for radon. The gaseous toxin is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

The only way to determine if a home has elevated levels of radon is to conduct a test. Testing and correcting systems are relatively easy to acquire and use. The EPA marks acceptable levels of radon to be anything below 4 pCi/l.

Read the full upr.org story here.

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