Radon gas is supposed to be familiar enough. It is radioactive gas that has odorless colorless, and tasteless features. This kind of gas is formed through uranium natural breakdown in rocks, soil, as well as water. Radon gas can easily escape the ground. Then, it seeps through your home just as easily through the cracks and, gaps, and holes. Not to mention that the radon gas can contaminate the water in your house just as easily. Radon gas is easily living with us in our home without we even realize it’s happening.
How dangerous can radon gas be?
According to health officials, radon gas is very dangerous. It is carcinogen which can cause various severe diseases such as lung cancer. There have been many studies conducted showed that the smokers have higher risk at getting poisoned by radon gas than non-smokers. However, if the level of radon gas at home is very high, even the non-smoker residents still at higher risk of developing lung cancer. Therefore, it is highly recommended to perform radon test to find out the level of it in your home. Therefore, you will know what to do next to reduce the level and protect yourself and family from the risk of radon.
Radon Gas
How to perform radon test?
There are ways to test out the level of radon in your house. You can use radon testing devices to find out the level of the radon. The devices are divided into passive and active types. You don’t have to make the radon test by yourself. In fact, there are already radon test kits in the market you can just purchase. You can set the device up if the instruction of the kit is simple enough that you understand what to do. However, you can also hire professional to perform the radon test properly if you are unsure. This way, you won’t doubt the result.
Passive radon testing device can function even without power. This device consists of alpha-track detector, charcoal canisters, as well as charcoal liquid scintillation devices. They are exposed to the air for specific amount of time in your house. Then, the data collected is sent to a laboratory for further analysis.
radon gas
Meanwhile, active radon testing device is considered more reliable than the passive one. However, it requires power to properly function. The device will continuously measure the radon in the air and record it. The process will make the radon more apparently spikes and dips. However, this kind of device is majorly used by air quality professionals as well as home inspectors.
How long does it take to test radon level at home?
Passive testing device require shorter amount of time to show the result. It can be completed within 3-5 days. Meanwhile, active radon testing device usually takes longer time to complete because it provides more accurate data of radon level. It may take up to more than 3 months to complete. Thus, performing short-term test using passive device is often preferred.