Did you know that the Coquitlam Public Library lends out radon detector kits? Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Exposure to high radon levels in indoor air increases the risk of developing lung cancer. With a radon detector, you can easily monitor radon levels in your home and keep yourself and your loved ones safe. As a bonus, Health Canada has provided the library with a discount code for those who want to buy a radon.
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces, like homes, it can accumulate to high levels and become a risk.
Radon gas breaks down to form radioactive elements that can be inhaled into the lungs. In the lungs, radon continues to break down, creating radioactive particles that release small bursts of energy. This energy is absorbed by nearby lung tissue, damaging the lung cells. When cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce.
How radon gets into your home
The air pressure inside your home is usually lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressure draws air and other gases, including radon, from the soil into your home.
Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the ground: cracks in foundation floor and walls, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.
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