Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is safe for humans to be around. Oftentimes, we tend to think that natural things are safe and falsely assume we are going to be okay. It is certainly a wonder that the Earth we reside on is not always a healthy and safe place for humans to exist in.
We not only have to worry about the dangers that exist in the outer world, but also the ones right under our feet. However, we are not at whim to these threats and can take action. Keep reading for what you should know about the dangers of Radon.
Radon
If you are entirely unfamiliar with Radon, that is okay, because we will explain it all here. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas that is naturally generated from uranium decomposing in our soil. Uranium is found nearly everywhere and in everything on Earth and constantly breaks down. This reaction process is normally safe but can quickly become toxic.
Dangers
The decomposition of uranium into Radon becomes dangerous when it is stuck within the confines of our home with no place to go. A buildup of Radon is highly toxic to humans and is only second to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer. As such, you can surmise that Radon is highly dangerous to humans, which is something you should know if you live in a hot zone. So how do you know if you live in a Radon hot zone, and how do you test your home for Radon?
Testing
If you were to look at a map of Radon hot zones, you would see a red splash roughly from Montana to New York. To indicate the level of Radon in America, scientists use three zones, with zone one being the most prevalent for this toxic gas. If you live in any hot zones, you must get your home regularly tested for Radon.
However, keep in mind that Radon is everywhere, just at varying levels, so you may consider testing your home anyway for your own peace of mind. There are many ways to test your home; you can purchase a kit yourself or employ professionals to enact state-of-the-art testing. When you test your home, you can have peace of mind that you’re safe and protected.
