Home Sweet Home
Part One

You have probably taken steps to make your house as safe as possible – removed loose throw rugs from the floor, installed a smoke detector, put dangerous chemicals out of the reach of small children – but did you know that there are many invisible threats lurking in your home. These dangers include radon gas, carbon monoxide, molds and mildews, lead and asbestos.

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that can increase your risk of lung cancer. Your chances of developing lung cancer after radon exposure depend on how much radon is in your home and how much time you spend indoors. In addition, smoking combined with radon exposure poses a particularly high risk of developing lung cancer. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. You can’t see radon or smell or taste it. It is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. Although most radon enters the house as a gas, a much smaller amount can come from the water supply, particularly if you use well water.

Nearly one out of every 15 homes is believed to have elevated radon levels. The only way radon can be detected in your home is by testing. You can purchase a do-it-yourself kit through the mail or through a home improvement or hardware store. If you prefer, you can hire a testing contractor to do the testing for you. Short-term tests remain in your house for 2-90 days and, although they provide results quickly, do not provide information about your year-round radon level. Long-term tests remain in your house for more than 90 days and are more likely to provide information about your year-round radon level. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends initially using a short-term test and, if you obtain high radon readings, follow-up with either a long-term test or a repeat short-term test.

If your home’s radon levels are high, you can generally reduce the levels at a relatively low expense. The primary method is installing a vent system with pipes and fans to pull radon from the soil beneath the concrete floor and foundation and vent it to the outside. You can either do this work yourself or hire a qualified contractor specializing in radon mitigation. The average cost of these radon reduction efforts is $1,200.

Carbon monoxide is another invisible gas that has no odor. Unlike radon which takes years to exert its effect, carbon monoxide can kill within five minutes. It is produced in any kind of combustion reaction and so is a by-product of kerosene and gas space heaters, gas cooking stoves, wood stoves, central heating systems and automobiles. Carbon monoxide (CO) interferes with the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. As CO levels rise, people are unable to think clearly and may not recognize the warning signs.

Common symptoms of low levels of CO intoxication include fatigue and flu-like symptoms including headache, nausea and dizziness. As CO levels rise in the blood, symptoms may include vomiting, weakness, confusion, blurred vision and shortness of breath. Continued exposure to CO can lead to passing out, convulsions and death. If you think that you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide, get some fresh air and contact your doctor or an emergency room.

CO poisoning can be prevented by taking special precautions when using combustion processes. If you use a space heater, keep a door and window open. Never use a space heater in a room where someone is sleeping. Use exhaust fans over gas cooking stoves. Have central air and heating systems inspected every year or two. Do not leave a car or truck idling in an attached garage. Consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm.

Next month, I’ll address some additional household dangers, including molds and mildews, asbestos and lead.