Possible symptoms include
shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
, a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon, it’s very important to quit smoking.
Does radon make you tired?
Additional, long-term symptoms of radon gas exposure include loss of appetite, weight loss, and
fatigue
. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms above because not only do they indicate symptoms of radon exposure, but consistent exposure to radon can also lead to lung cancer.
How do you know if you have radon in your home?
The only way you can tell that you might have radon in your house is
looking for the entryways
. Finding cracks in your floor or walls might mean radon has made its way into your home, but there’s still no way to know for sure.
What are the symptoms of radon toxicity?
- persistent cough.
- coughing up blood.
- wheezing.
- shortness of breath.
- hoarseness.
- chest pain, especially when you cough or laugh.
- frequent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
How quickly can radon affect you?
If a person has been exposed to radon, 75% of the radon progeny in the lungs will become harmless lead particles
after 44 years
. When a particle damages a cell to make it cancerous, the onset of lung cancer takes at least five years, but often takes 15 to 25 years and even longer.
Do all homes have some radon?
Any home can have a radon problem
. This means new and old homes, well- sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. … Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. … Since removing radon is relatively simple,
your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place
.
Does keeping windows open help with radon?
Opening windows
improves air circulation and ventilation
, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. … A fan blowing air out of the basement increases negative pressure, which can actually increase radon levels.
Is a radon level of 5 bad?
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of
4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous
. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
How do you eliminate radon?
There’s no single method
that fits all radon removal system needs. Common techniques include: Sub-slab depressurization, where suction pipes are inserted through the floor or concrete slab into the concrete slab below the home. A radon vent fan then draws out the radon gas and releases it into the air outside.
Should I worry about radon gas?
If we breath in high levels of radon over long periods of time this exposure can lead to damage to the sensitive cells of our lungs which increases the risk of lung cancer. Radon causes about 1,000 lung cancer deaths in the UK every year.
Can you get sick from radon?
You won’t have symptoms of radon poisoning right away
. Instead, health problems from the exposure, such as lung cancer, show up after many years. Lung cancer may start as a nagging cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing that doesn’t go away.
How often should you test for radon?
The EPA even recommends checking radon levels
at least every two years
as radon flow can increase over a timescale longer than one calendar year. This is to say, just as radon levels fluctuate within a calendar year, they also fluctuate as years pass.
Where is radon most commonly found?
It sometimes gets concentrated in homes built on soil with natural uranium deposits. It can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls, construction joints, or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in
the basement or crawl space
.
Can radon cause dizziness?
Long-term radon exposure produces symptoms akin to those of lung cancer. Unlike carbon monoxide poisoning or exposure to other dangerous gases,
you won’t notice symptoms
like fatigue, headache, confusion or dizziness. That’s because radon gas decays rapidly, damaging the cells in your lungs as it breaks down.
What does radon smell like?
Radon Has No Smell
In truth, radon doesn’t smell like anything at all. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, which is what makes it all the more dangerous for you and your home. Only tests designed especially for radon can give you an accurate reading on the level of radon gas in your home.
