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What Are Dangerous Radon Levels

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Dangerous Radon Levels in Iowa

Iowa Radon Levels

Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when radium decays and it is also colorless, and odorless.  This gas can be very harmful and even deadly, but sadly it’s most common in the home. Radon can be found anywhere, and by anywhere I mean it is found all over the United States. It’s a natural gas that diffuses through the air harmlessly, and naturally. Radon is the second leading cause to lung cancer following cigarette smoke. This dangerous gas can come through a home from many different spots starting from crawl spaces to sump pumps. It’s said that the best way of controlling radon levels in the home is to have an Iowa radon mitigation unit installed. This unit will remove radon by ventilating it out. The Radon Act 51, which was passed by congress, set the natural outside level of radon gas (0.4pCi/L) as the target level for indoor radon levels. This level is still dangerous, but any level above this would cause a lot more problems and health risks than the lowest level. Radon levels increase as temperatures decrease, so during the winter, radon is most dangerous.  When it gets cold outside, the ground freezes, and there might even be a layer of snow on the ground. When the ground freezes, the radon is trapped in the soil beneath our home, and since the radon won’t be able to escape out of the ground, your house may suck up some of that gas to a higher concentration.

Radon Levels in Iowa Homes

The EPA believes that radon at any level is risky although as stated above, the 0.4 pCi/L, would be considered an acceptable level. Radon gas isn’t picky about its victims. It doesn’t matter about your weight, sex, race, or age. BUT it may be more prominent in the young, and the very old. Same with the weakened immune systems. So be sure to take all the necessary steps to eliminate radon out of your household, for a safe living and healthy living. Iowa is known for having double the radon levels of what is considered acceptable by the EPA. So radon testing and Iowa radon mitigation is more important than ever. For all your Iowa radon levels concerns, call Ameriserv Radon Mitigation Iowa. We perform radon testing, radon mitigation and even install air purifiers.

Why Iowa Has Radon Problems

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Why Iowa has radon problems is often a question people will ask when it comes time to purchase a home in Iowa. Radon is a gas that is produced in soils surrounding your home or building and enters through the dirt floors or cracks in the foundation, through pipes or even openings in your floor drains.  Basements usually have the most concentrated levels of radon, but homes without basements can also be affected.

In Iowa, the radon levels have a tendency to be higher due to the soils in the Midwest having  a lot of uranium and radium in it. When these minerals break down they release the radon gas. Once the radon has entered the home, it goes through the air that you breath daily. In the winter months this gas gets trapped in the soil and cannot filter out into the air. Making this a more dangerous time for radon to enter your home.  This odorless gas is very harmful if not detected immediately and you usually you will not even realize that you have been exposed to the gas until you begin noticing signs of lung cancer starting to develop.

All homes, new or old should be tested for radon either by using an at-home test or by having a professional contractor come in to perform it. Getting accurate results is important so that you will know what you need to do address the problem.

Call AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa for services provided in many Iowa cities including Des Moines, Carroll, Sioux City, and Fort Dodge. Checking your home frequently and having a radon detector is a good idea to help protect you and your family from this deadly cancer causing gas.

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Things to Know about Radon when Selling your House

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Radon mitigation and radon testing for selling a home is a very important thing to make sure is completed before you try and sell your home.  This deadly gas has been found in homes all over the county and can be quite a problem in some homes without the homeowner even realizing it. Whether your home is new or old, the same problems can be present. Because this gas is emitted from soil and rock and even water, it can affect the air that you breath and can end up causing lung cancer if not found quickly. It is reported that this radioactive gas is the second most cause of lung cancer. AmeriServ, we can be your radon mitigation Iowa service provider.

When you decide to sell your home, be aware that most home buyers will want to see some type of radon testing report to make sure they are not purchasing a home that is going to put them at risk. The testing should be done in the lowest level of the home that will most likely be used by a family as living space as this is where they will be spending the most time. Two short-term tests should be conducted at the same time for 48 hours when needing to get a quick result for selling your home.  Once the test is completed, getting it to a testing lab quickly will get the best results. If high levels of radon are detected, getting the problem resolved quickly is very important.

Some ways that radon can be mitigated in the home are to make sure there is proper water drainage in your basement area and also to seal the basement foundation. Another method that is used is active soil depressurization which uses a fan to pull out the gas from under the foundation.

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa is a company you can trust when it comes time to test your home for radon and/or to get rid of it if it is detected. Call AmeriServ today for you radon mitigation Iowa and radon testing needs today.

Health Concerns About Radon

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What are the Effects of Radon on Your Health?

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People throughout the world have concerns about the effects of radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced from the decay of uranium beneath the soil. It is a definite hazard and is very common. Uranium has been present beneath the soil since the earth was formed. Decay will continue at the present rate for millions of years. Radon gas is more pronounced in some areas than others, and it presents a clear cut danger to those who breathe in the toxic gas. Radon gas will get trapped in attic and basement areas and can also be found in spring water and hot springs. At AmeriServ, we can be your radon mitigation Iowa service provider to eliminate radon gas.

What if you have been exposed?

People who live around radon exposure are at high risk for lung cancer. In the US radon-induced lung cancer accounts for 21,000 deaths per year.  From that huge number 2,900 have never smoked.  Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Most radon induced lung cancers develop from low to medium amounts of radon exposure. Lung cancer is treatable, but the survival rate is one of the lowest for those who have cancer. From the time lung cancer is diagnosed, 11-15 % of those afflicted will live beyond five years. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented. Lung cancer surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women.  A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.

At AmeriServ, we can test your radon levels today! Let us be your radon mitigation Iowa service provider.

Radon Testing Iowa Solutions

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The Importance of Radon Testing in IowaCommercial Building Inspector Iowa

Your family could possibly be at the risk of developing lung cancer from the radioactive, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas called RADON. AmeriServ ‘s Radon testing team can do a radon test that will monitor your home or business for up to 48 hours to determine the level of RADON you are being exposed to daily. Doesn’t that seem like a sensible thing to do? More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are attributed to breathing radon.   It is impossible to completely eradicate RADON. The dangerous gas is a product of thorium and uranium breakdown with the soil. It is a slow and natural process and it emits gas into the air so the exposure is everywhere.

Radon Tests in Iowa

Ameriserv Radon Mitigation Iowa is a leader in Iowa for testing for radon. The EPA has standards that gauge the level of radon that is threatening to your health.  Levels are measured in picocuries.  These are scientific measurements that express the units of radioactivity that is being emitted. The “harmful” level would be if your test came back at 4 pCi or above. If the radon test shows levels above 4 a radon mitigation Iowa plan would be put into place to rid your structure of this harmful gas. Consider radon testing and radon mitigation today and give Ameriserv Radon Mitigation Iowa a call.