Tag Archives: Iowa Department of Public Health

A Citizen’s Guide to Radon in Iowa

Radon Levels, Radon Mitigation, Radon Testing, , , , ,

Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon

Radon causes thousands of lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The entire
Radon mitigation is Iowa by AmeriServ Radon Mitigationstate of Iowa is in the red zone which means that every county in Iowa is in the highest potential area of the United States for higher than average levels of radon. This is due to the fact that Iowa has uranium-rich soil. Radon is formed when the uranium and radium in rocks decays, filling the soil with radon.

You cannot see, smell or taste radon so you won’t know if your have a high radon level unless your home is tested. It causes thousands of deaths a year because when you breathe air that contains radon, it can cause lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking. If you smoke and your home has high radon level, you have an even higher risk of developing lung cancer. There are several ways that radon gets into your home. They are:

  • Cracks in floors
  • Cracks in walls
  • Construction joints
  • Gaps in suspended floors
  • Gaps around pipes
  • Water supply
  • Cavities inside walls

Once radon enters your home, it becomes trapped and builds up. A radon level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher is cause for concern. Even radon levels less than 4 pCi/L poses a risk. It is important to get your Iowa home tested for radon. The experts at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation  can come and test your home and offer radon mitigation to keep your radon levels low.

Solutions For High Radon Levels in Iowa

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation can test your home using short-term testing of long-term testing.

  • Short-term testing: This testing remains in your home for 2 to 90 days, using either charcoal canisters, alpha track, electret iron chamber, continuous monitors and charcoal liquid scintillation detectors. This type of testing may not determine a year-round average. Many times, short-term testing is done for real estate transactions.
  • Long-term testing: This testing remains in your home for more than 90 days and give a more accurate year-round average of your radon levels. This testing includes alpha track and electret detectors.

If the testing finds that your home has elevated levels of radon, the AmeriServ team can install a radon mitigation system to remove the harmful radon from your home.

The first step in radon mitigation is to drill a hole in your foundation to provide a suction point. Next, we attach a PVC pipe to the hole to act as a vent then the pipe is connected to a fan. The fan allows the air to flow in the right direction, out of the home.

It is important to get your Iowa home tested for radon, and have a professional perform radon mitigation if the levels are high. Protect yourself and your family from health issues related to radon. Let the professionals at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation test your home.

The AmeriServ team is professionally trained by the State of Iowa and is certified by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Don’t hesitate to contact AmeriServ to get your home tested for radon and keep you and your family safe from this harmful gas.

 

Iowa Radon Map: What it means for Iowa Residents

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Iowa Radon Map

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the state of Iowa a level of high risk for the gas radon. As you can see by the map to the right, all of Iowa counties are in red. Red is the highest level of predicted average indoor radon screening level that is greater than 4 pCi/L. High levels of radon in your home, business or school can cause lung cancer according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Since radon gas is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, you can see why it is such a dangerous gas. With the help of a qualified company like AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa, you can have your home tested to make sure the levels fall below the recommended amounts.

Why does Iowa have such a high levels of radon? During the Ice Age glaciers moved over the land breaking up and carrying rocks from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario to Iowa. With the movement of the glaciers these rocks got smaller and smaller increasing the surface area allowing radon to escape easier. Over more time the rain, freezing, thawing, plant roots, and exposure to oxygen, break down the rocks even more creating more surface area for the radon to escape. So all of these crushed up rocks filled with uranium and radium now cover the state of Iowa.

All across Iowa homes, businesses and schools have been built on soil that has radon in it. The pressure in the house or building is lower than the pressure around the foundation. The difference in the pressure works like a vacuum drawing the radon into your home through any cracks or openings. Your family now is breathing the radon gas and their health is a risk of getting lung cancer.

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa is the company to call to have your house or business tested for any levels of concern. Checking the Iowa radon map above will make you want to take precautions to protect your family. Our company can install a vent system and fan to pull the radon from beneath your house to the outside. We are your radon mitigation Iowa service provider. This is great since there is no major changes to your house or landscape. Cracks in the foundation will need to be sealed to prevent radon seeping into your house. When the levels are high, you will need to find a trained contractor that has the knowledge and skills to study your home and plan the treatment that is best for your situation. As a homeowner, you should also get references and maybe more than one estimate. Once the work is done, be sure to set up a retest at a later date. AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa is a trusted and reliable company that can take of your radon concerns.