January is National Radon Awareness Month

The World Health Organization has released their mortality statistics for 2010 and a startling statistic about in-home causes of death surfaced. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Radon Gas causes over 20,000 deaths annually in the United States. To put that into perspective, Radon caused more deaths in 2010 than drunk driving, fires, and carbon monoxide.

The EPA is urging the U.S. media to assist in creating awareness of this silent killer by declaring January National Radon Awareness Month. Radon problems have been detected in almost every county in the United States. The Surgeon General and American Lung Association have also taken action to help prevent these needless deaths by recommending that all homes in the U.S. be tested regardless of geographic location or foundation type.
Testing is the key. If elevated levels are found, mitigation will reduce the risk.
You can learn more about Radon Gas and National Radon Action Month 2011 at radonmonth.wordpress.com.

Also visit our website at http://radoncontrols.blogspot.com/ a very good site for realtors and prospective home buyers.

Oct 2010 E-FACT

When you hear the word "Radon." I hope you think of us here a Radon Controls, Inc. We have made it our business to make homes and businesses safe for over 22 years. One interesting property of radon is that it glows when cold. Radon gas is clear and colorless. The liquid is transparent. The element starts to glow yellow, then orange, then red, as cooled into its opaque solid form at -71°C. The glow is 'Cerenkov radiation', which is light produced as charged subatomic particles interact with their immediate environment. Below is a photo of Cerenkov radiation.

Customer Feedback

Leadership problems concerning radon

It’s been 22 years since Congress passed the Indoor Radon Abatement Act. Everyday in the US, 60 people will die a day as a result of indoor radon induced lung cancer. In a year’s time, that is 22,000 people.



The question is no longer if radon gas is a threat; it’s whether or not our local, county, state and Federal representatives will provide leadership in this area.

In Virginia, only 2 counties have adopted the IRC codes pertaining to radon resistance construction. Virginia has 48 counties in EPA Zone 1.


Think about it, we all think we are the safest while in our homes. For instance, a house having 4 pCi of radon per liter of air has about 8 or 9 atoms of radon decaying every minute in every liter of air inside the house. A 1,000 square foot house with 4 pCi/L of radon has nearly 2 million radon atoms decaying in it every minute. That 4 pCi/l action level doesn't seem to low does now does it.

Receiving Customer Feedback is always good.......

What's in a measurement? 4 pC/iL Rn222

For instance, a house having 4 pCi of radon per liter of air has about 8 or 9 atoms of radon decaying every minute in every liter of air inside the house. A 1,000 square foot house with 4 pCi/L of radon has nearly 2 million radon atoms decaying in it every minute. The photo below shows the "Tracks" made by Alpha Particles. (Radiation)

Radon - The Killer in Tobacco

Out of nearly 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, only 2 definite chemical carcinogens have been identified in cigarette smoke - benzopyrine and nitrosamine -the most potent carcinogen found in tobacco is radiation from Polonium-210, a radon decay product.
The use of phosphate fertilizers on tobacco has tripled in recent years. Calcium phosphate accumulates uranium which slowly releases radon gas. The breakdown of radon produces radioactive polonium-210 which adheres to the tobacco leaves.
The Surgeon General stated that radioactivity, rather than tar, accounts for at least 90% of all smoking-related lung cancers.
Given this information it appears that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer.


To read more information please see: Dr. Gordon Edwards

Estimating Lung Cancers....

Radioactive Polonium in Tobacco