Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas released from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. Thereby, radon often finds its way into homes through cracks in floors, walls and structural foundations. Needless to say, we all breathe in radon every day, but only in small doses, which doesn\u2019t pose health risks. Breathing in radon can become a long-term health issue when radon levels build up in an indoor environment. High radon levels are linked to lung cancer. It’s been estimated that up to 22,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer as a result of radon. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to have your home regularly tested.<\/p>\n
Yes, it\u2019s time to start taking radon seriously. And a big part of taking this gas seriously is knowing that breathing it in isn\u2019t the only way you can be exposed to it. Another common source of radon exposure is drinking water.<\/p>\n
So just how does radon get into drinking water? Typically, this occurs when the gas dissolves underground and accumulates in wells. Now, some of this radon will eventually escape the water and go back into the air, but it\u2019s not uncommon for some of it to also remain in the water source itself. That\u2019s when problems can arise. People who consume water containing radon for elongated periods of time are more likely to develop internal problems, such as stomach cancer. However, it\u2019s also worth noting that the risk of developing health issues from consuming radon in water is much less than if the risk from breathing in high amounts of radon. According to the EPA, radon in drinking water is responsible for only about 170 cancer deaths per year \u2013 far fewer than the 22,000 from lung cancer.<\/p>\n
Should you be concerned about your drinking water? It depends. According to the EPA, drinking water is typically only a concern if it comes from underground, such as from wells that pumps water from aquifers. So, specifically, private wells are at a particularly high risk. Water that comes from rivers, lakes and streams isn\u2019t a concern because the radon has plenty of time and opportunities to leave the liquid and return to its gaseous state before being consumed.<\/p>\n
Awareness of the hazards of radon exposure has increased in recent years, thanks in part to the EPA, which designated January as National Radon Action Month. This designation encourages homeowners to get their homes tested for abnormal levels. But consumers need to also be aware that radon poses a threat to overall health if it\u2019s found in the water you\u2019re drinking as well. So if you have a private well, you\u2019re encouraged to get your water tested.<\/p>\n
Radon is a potentially harmful gas, but limiting exposure to it is highly plausible. All it takes is the know-how and effort to get the appropriate tests done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas released from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. Thereby, radon often finds its way into homes through cracks in floors, walls and structural foundations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n