Most of us are aware of cancer. We understand the dangers of it and how scary it can be. However, we tend to have only a vague understanding of what can lead to cancer, and what we should do to help prevent it. It never seems to help that there are so many myths regarding major causes of cancer floating around on the internet, and social media.
While many people worry over chemicals and synthetic vs. all natural fibers, radon actually tends to be a major cause of cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Therefore, while it is always a good idea to keep an eye on other potential causes of cancer, it is important to reduce our exposure to radon through a radon abatement service.
Thankfully, a radon mitigation company is well equipped to reduce levels of radon in our homes and other buildings. By keeping exposure to radon low, we can easily reduce our risk of cancer. This is especially important to smokers. With a combination of high radon exposure and smoking habits, individuals who smoke experience a very high risk of cancer.
In fact, passive systems of mitigation, which can be installed by a radon mitigation company, are known to significantly reduce indoor radon levels. Plus, with the use of other radon mitigation services, such as a radon ventilation fan, our exposure can be reduced even further.
In addition, part of the reason we tend to continue to live with high levels of radon is that we may not have a good understanding of what it is. High radon levels are known to be very dangerous — but just what constitutes as a high level of radon?
For a family home, radon levels above 4 pCi/l are considered to be too high. This level of radiation is so extreme that it is about 35 times higher than what the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow for anyone to stand next to the fence of a radioactive waste site. Plus, while you may believe that no homes could possibly have that much radon exposure, this is actually just another myth.
After completing radon testing in homes in seven different states, the United States Environmental Protection Agency found that nearly a third of the homes checked had exposure to radon levels above 4 pCi/l. Such a large portion of homes with this high level of exposure indicates that many people simply don’t understand the dangers of radon, and at what point they should have assistance in reducing their exposure. With the help of a radon mitigation company, once we understand these issues, we can be well on our way to reducing our risk of cancer.