Date Published: 01/10/2020 [Source]
With buildings closed due to outside cold, January is the time to test for radon gas in your home.
Radon is a radioactive gas which occurs naturally. It is the decay of Uranium below the earth's surface. Small cracks and holes in the foundation or sides allow radon to flow into a building. In the winter when people have their homes closed up there can be higher levels of radon because of the "stack effect". This illustrates that as cold air comes underneath the home, it warms up, expands and rises.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. (Tobacco smoke is first.) Radon lets radioactive alpha particles loose, which slam into lung lining cells.
This can damage the lungs and cause lung cancer. Most radon exposure occurs in the home or workplace where people spend a lot of time. It has no taste, smell, or color. To find how much radon is present inside a building, a radon test kit is used to sample indoor air quality.