Have you heard of radon? A colorless, odorless gas, radon is the byproduct of the radioactive decay of uranium naturally occurring in the soil and rocks in our environment. When you are exposed to radon in indoor environments, including in your home, you run an increased risk of lung cancer. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that about 21 000 people in the US die of cancer caused by radon every year.

Radon gas is produced by the naturally occurring breakdown of uranium in the ground. Normally, radon does not pose a health threat when we breathe the outside air. But in poorly ventilated areas, including basements, insulated houses, and mines, radon gas can be a potent carcinogen. In fact, the EPA estimates that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, after smoking. If you are a smoker AND exposed to radon gas, your risk is especially high.

Radon is a radioactive gas, a product of the decay of uranium. As radon continues to break down, it produces particles in the air called “radon daughters”. If you breathe in these particles, they can damage your lung tissue, leading to lung cancer. Studies about the correlation of radon to lung cancer center on miners who were exposed to high levels of the gas, but even the lower levels found in some homes can pose a health risk.

Radon can leak into your home from the surrounding soil and rock through cracks in your home’s foundation, gaps in construction and poorly sealed pipes, and leaks in your basement floors and walls. It can also seep into your home through concrete walls, and from well water if your water source is a well.

Most homes do not have dangerous levels of radon gas, but it is difficult to predict whether your house will be one of them, as many factors can affect the levels of the gas. Purchasing a test kit is inexpensive and easy, and will tell you whether you have dangerous levels of the gas. In the U.S., you can also contact your state radon program for further testing and help reducing the radon level, which may include home repairs and installing better ventilation. Many radon-reduction systems have excellent success at reducing, if not eliminating, the radon gas that may be trapped in your home.

Most new homes should be designed to prevent radon from seeping into the house, but there are also things you can do to reduce your risk in an existing older home.

• If you have earthen floors in your basement, renovate them and install new floors.
• Fix any leaks or cracks you may have in your basement, walls, or foundation.
• Seal gaps around pipes and drains. Make sure your ventilation systems are working properly.
• Test levels of radon on every level of your home, and test again before and after every renovation.

Fixing problems in your home that allow the entry of radon gas can be inexpensive, comparable to the cost of any other home repairs you carry out in the course of your home maintenance.

This post was included in the Real Estate Investing Carnival.