Your Children and Radon: Here’s What You Need to Know

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Homeowners in Colorado need to be especially wary when purchasing a new or pre-owned home. Our Centennial State is known for its rugged Rocky Mountains, active lifestyle, open-minded culture, and high radon test levels in homes all around. When buying a home that is new to you and your family, it’s crucial to have the home tested for radon before closing. Radon is a toxic gas dangerous to all those who come into contact with it…especially children. Here’s what you should know about radon gas exposure to help keep your children safe.

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is generated by the breakdown of organic matter. Seems harmless, right? On the contrary, even though radon comes from the earth, it is in fact a toxic, health hazard found almost everywhere. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, which means it’s impossible to detect without professional testing. This harmful gas is a silent killer, as many homeowners are completely unaware that it has permeated the air throughout the home.

How Does Radon Affect Health?

When you and your children breathe air saturated with high levels of radon, the gas gets trapped in your lungs. Radon is the second cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and causes an estimated 20,000 cases per year. Burning wood in a wood stove to provide indoor heat can also increase the home’s radon levels; however, health issues may not appear for years later, long after children have moved out.

Are Children More Susceptible?

Radon usually enters the home through cracks in the foundation, making small children more susceptible to higher levels of radon. Children who are currently at the crawling phase of development will be physically closer to higher concentrations of radon when compared to their adult counterparts. In addition, kids of all ages respire at a quicker rate as well, due to their smaller lung capacity. They may breathe in more radon-permeated air if the home’s levels are higher than usual.

How Can I Prevent Exposing My Children to Radon?

Since radon is a naturally occurring substance, there is no way to permanently prevent your children from coming into contact with radon. However, there are many ways to mitigate radon exposure in your own home. Installing a radon mitigation system, custom fitted to your home, will help lower levels, making it a much safer place to raise a family. Decreasing radon levels in your new home before moving your family in is the best way to ensure your children are exposed to the least amount of radon possible.

We appreciate the desire to keep loved ones happy, healthy, and safe, especially in the sanctuary of their own home. Our top-rated radon testing allows prospective home buyers to analyze a new home’s radon levels before closing on that home. It also provides the buyer the opportunity to set up a mitigation system before moving their family in. To learn more about radon testing or our custom mitigation services, contact us today.