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Writer's pictureGwen Krehbiel CNHP

What's Radon?

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil. The gas can accumulate in the home. Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage the lungs. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer.



Every 25 minutes, a person in the U.S. dies from radon-related lung cancer. It is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.


More than 40 percent of Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas. Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Testing is easy, inexpensive and only takes 3-5 days.


Where can I get a test kit?

You can reduce radon levels, but the only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to test. Minnesota has one available here: https://mn.radon.com or you can get them from Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.



How do I check more often?

We ordered this unit for constant monitoring in our home. I have also taken it with me on trip and to my part-time job to check those locations.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


What can I do if the level of radon is high?

If the building's radon level is high (more than 148 Bq/m3 or 4 pCi/L), you should hire a professional for what is called radon mitigation services. These can reduce radon levels by as much as 99%. Possibilities include:

  • Home pressurization, which uses a fan to blow air and create enough pressure to stop radon from entering the home.

  • Improvements to air exchange in the building.

  • Plastic sheeting in homes with crawl spaces.

  • Repairs to cracks in the foundation.

  • Soil suction, which pulls radon from under the home and vents it through a pipe into the air.

  • Tests on the soil and home appliances.

  • Underground or other types of ventilation systems.

You should retest radon levels after mitigation efforts to make sure levels go down.


To Your Thriving Health!

Gwen


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