
Incredibly Dangerous Gas Found in Over 1/3 of Maine Homes
That headline is kind of unbelievable, isn't it?
If a deadly gas had been detected in thousands of Maine houses, people would be scrambling to do something about it, right? They'd be immediately moving out of those homes or looking for a way to fix the problem.
As wild as it sounds, it is true, but people don't always take the necessary action to fix the problem.
What is Radon Gas? Why is Radon Dangerous?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Radon is an odorless gas that is created naturally when radioactive metals like uranium, thorium, or radium break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater.
The article also states:
People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it.
Radon is dangerous because it is radioactive. Just like radiation from a nuclear reactor or a nuclear explosion, it can cause cancer. According to the American Lung Association, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon in Maine Homes
According to the American Lung Association, Radon has been detected in high levels of 36.5% of tested Maine homes.
Keep in mind that the percentage of homes with high levels of Radon varies from county to county. In Cumberland County, for example, about 66% of tested homes have high levels of the deadly gas.
What Can Be Done About Radon in Your Home?
According to the Green Maine Homes website, all Maine homes should be tested for Radon. If it is determined that there are high levels of Radon in the home, a mitigation system should be installed.
A typical Radon mitigation system involves installing a pipe to vent the buildup of the Radon gas from under the house.
Have you had your home tested?
When I was a kid in the 80s & 90s, these commercials for Radon used to scare the crap out of me. The idea of kids running around in gas masks always made me think of some old movie about a nuclear apocalypse.
Do you remember them?
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Gallery Credit: Jeff Parsons