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Radon Hazards Identified in Easy to Use IAQ Test Kit

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:18:32 EST

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium.  It may be found in rock formations and groundwater beneath buildings or in certain building materials. The gas typically moves up through the soil and penetrates buildings through cracks, sumps and other holes in the building slab or foundation.
 
Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in people's lungs when they breathe. As these particles continue to undergo radioactive decay, they continue to release energy that can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of many years.
 
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 'Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.'  The agency goes on to state, 'Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.'
 
To help identify radon in indoor environments, IAQ Index offers test kits for radon testing.  Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, was asked about the need for properties to be tested.  He reported, 'Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels, and radon is thought to cause thousands of deaths each year. The radon sampling device used in the IAQ Index kit is termed a short-term test, and measures radon gas in units of picocuries of radiation per liter of air, or pCi/L. Because radon levels can vary over time within a building, and the health risks associated with radon are more closely associated with the average, long-term exposure; the short-term test provides a good estimate of one's potential exposure and risk.'
 
To learn more, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA's Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.