What Is Radon?  

Radon is element #86, a carcinogenic gas that occurs from the radioactive decay of radium.  You cannot see, smell or taste radon, yet it is by far the most dangerous indoor environmental pollutant found in homes.  Regardless of age or style of your home, if radium is present in the soil below, your home may be unsafe to live in.  Exposure to radon is a very serious health threat.  According to the EPA, homes located in the Midwest, including Omaha are more likely to have high radon levels than in any other area of the United States.  Professional House Doctors, Inc can help!

 

What Are The Health Effects?  

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.  Radon kills over 21,000 people every year in America.  That is over 57 deaths per day!  The most susceptible are young children, smokers, people that spend most of their time indoors and the elderly.  The good news is radon deaths are preventable.

 

How Does Radon Enter Our Home?  

If radon is present in the soil that surrounds your home, the radon will be drawn into the basement by the negative pressure found in the lower levels of all structures.  This drawing effect pulls radon into the home and is then generally distributed throughout the house by the heating and cooling system and by what is known as the "Stack Effect".   

 

How Do I Know If My Family Is Safe? 

The only way to know is to test.  The EPA recommends that every home in America be tested as soon as possible.  The EPA states, "You should fix your home if it tests at 4.0 pico-curies per liter (pCi/L) or higher.  If your home's test is between 2 to 4 pCi/L, you should seriously consider fixing it".  The lower your family's exposure to radon, the safer your family is.