Silent Killer in Your Home – Radon Gas

You can not see radon gas. It does not have color or smell, but it can kill you. If inhaled, radon gas decay products (polonium-218 and polonium-214) can penetrate the cells of lungs and increase the risk of lung tumors. The alpha radiation from radon decay chain have become a concern for The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which is the part of the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on sufficient information and research data IARC classifies Radon as a “carcinogenic to humans” since its progeny can cause lung cancer.

According to the Maryland Department of Public Health and Environment lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in MD, accounting for 26.9% of all cancer deaths. Everybody knows that smoking may lead to lung cancer. However, exposure to radioactive radon gas in the home is the leading cause of lunge cancer in non-smokers. That said, at least 60 percent of lung cancers diagnosed today occur in those who either have never smoked or quit smoking in the past. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Surgeon General and all major health organizations agree that radon causes 15,000 to 22,000 U.S. lung cancer deaths a year. Radon gas is a problem in 1 in 15 U.S. homes, the EPA said.

American nation loses numerous amount of people due to lung cancer every year. Despite the sad statistics mentioned above, this is a time of hope for people. Cancer prevention programs are among the highest priorities for Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Moreover, government of Maryland encouraging Radon proactive behavior of all Marylanders. Therefore, as of October 1, 2016, Radon law Montgomery County MD requires that “a single-family home located in the County must be tested for radon before completing a sale of the home.”


Kate Reddy Realtor and certified by NRPP Radon Measurement provider recommends always to have a radon inspection contingency in real estate purchase offer contract.

Short-term radon test will be performed in the property to make sure that house does not hide health hazard for your family and Radon level is below “Action” level. If elevated level of radioactive gas is detected the purchaser can ask the seller to install radon mitigation system. Radon Test clause allows the buyer to walk away from the deal, void the contract and get back the EMD money if the seller is not cooperating. The good news is that in most cases the seller will agree for remediation since the test results must be disclosed to any next buyer. Even if the seller reject to mitigate radon, the buyer can ask for an extra credit towards closing or reduce the radon levels in a home through a 203(k) mortgage loan.

Having the Radon testing done in Maryland is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radioactive radon exposure. If you think you don’t need to test, think again. Every home, in every neighborhood has the potential to harbor the silent killer. The levels of radon in buildings depend on the characteristics of the rock and soil in the area. Geological map of Maryland especially Montgomery county shows lots of Metamorphic rocks: slate, quartzite, marble, gneiss. These types of stone have higher than average uranium contents. Radon is forms naturally when uranium breaks down. The higher the uranium level is in an area, the greater the chances are that house will have elevated level of radon gas.

Radon level map Maryland Montgomery county has been designated as a Zone 1 area which means there is a predicted average radon level at or above the EPA’s 4.0 pico-Curies per liter (pCi/L) Action level. The risks of lung cancer from radon exposure of at list 4.0 pCi/L is equal to the risk of dying in a car accident.

“Radon gas is a silent killer. It creates a health risk you can do something about! The first step is a test. You don’t need to flee your home if elevated level of radon is discovered, but EPA recommends to install a mitigation system and vent out radioactive gas from your home,” said Mike Calamus the CEO of Calamus-Enterprises.com and “Safe Home for the Family” radon awareness program manager.

CONTACT:

240-308-5434

SOURCE: Radon Testing Maryland

Tennessee mom warns of dangerous radioactive gas that could be in your home

That was the diagnosis for the teenage daughter of April Bermingham when she was just 15-years-old. Living in Florida, April, her husband, and three other children decided to move to middle Tennessee just over a year ago for the sole purpose of being close to one of the nation’s best pediatric hospitals; Vanderbilt Medical Center.

April and the family picked up and moved here just 13-months-ago, finding a rental unit until they found the right home. In the process, the family found out April was pregnant and they also found a home for the family. April and her husband signed the contract to close on their new home last month and things looked good for the soon to be family of seven.

But then the inspection came back after closing on the home. The Radon levels were higher than what is considered safe. April’s home recorded a measurement of 6 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). 4 pCi/L is what is considered high by the EPA, though lower levels still pose cancer risk.

The colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and can cause lung cancer according to the EPA. The National Academy of Sciences reports it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country and estimates it causes 15,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

It was a red flag for April and the family. Her daughter had overcome 140 tumors in her lungs through her battle, finally going into remission. April was pregnant and they had three other kids to keep healthy. Feeling the state of Tennessee had failed them, the family reached out to the Health Department for help. In December, a state representative called back, saying they found a company who wanted to help the new Tennesseans.

David Coffey is the president of Radon1, a Radon measurement and mitigation company which has become the largest in the state. Originally a contractor, Coffey was moved to become certified after his sister was struck by cancer. “I started doing research and found 72 percent of Tennesseans live in potential radioactive gas. I thought, people should know about this and within two years I was certified and we started Radon1,” Coffey says.

Coffey visited April and her family, just a few weeks before Christmas. The family decided to keep renting since they couldn’t move into a home with such high levels of Radon. Coffey shared his own personal cancer story and said he would install a mitigation system in the home for free. “It was the right thing to do,” Coffey says. Thanks to his generosity, the family was able to move into their new home just before Christmas.

“He is my hero. He saved Christmas and basically our daughter’s life,” April told FOX 17 News. “I just want other families to know about the potential danger. It affects everyone, health conditions or not. You’re still exposed to it. My friend has a brand new home and they found high levels in the crawl space,” April says.

Spreading awareness is a sentiment Coffey shares. “You need a certified termite inspector why you have a home inspected but not for Radon,” Coffey says. “I’ve never heard anyone dying of termites. There’s a lot of awareness which needs to happen.”

In Tennessee, each county is rated by Radon zones. Zone 1 meaning the average indoor screening is greater that 4 pCi/L (action needs to be taken), Zone 2 between 2-4 pCi/L and Zone 3 being levels less than 2. 41 counties in the state are considered to be Zone 1, over a dozen in middle Tennessee -including Davidson County.

Coffey says he has tested homes in Davidson County -and others, which have tested in the 100s.

“We are just now catching up on mandates,” Coffey says. “It’s not regulated yet but the conversations are happening. People just need to know how easy it is to test for Radon. Everyone needs to do it.”