For many years, it has been known that Iowa has the highest radon levels in the country. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas that can lead to a variety of health problems, especially with long-term exposure, such as in a home or school. This gas is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, making this a dangerous chemical that should be avoided at all costs.
There has been a debate as to whether schools should undergo regular mandatory radon testing to reduce the risk of exposure for students. Because children are attending school every day, long-term exposure is possible, which has been known to lead to lung-cancer. This is why radon testing is being considered mandatory in Iowa schools.
Radon Testing and Mitigation for Iowa Schools
Some believe the schools will not have enough funding, and that radon testing is a low priority. The price of a radon test for a school is about $700, but this would ensure that schools receive quality radon tests. Many schools say they do not test for radon regularly, if at all. It is up to the people and school boards to decide.
Contact AmeriServ today to learn more about our service area, radon testing, or radon mitigation. We want to answer any questions you have concerning radon, and we will try to help in any way we can. Give us a call today!
Radon is one of the most prominent carcinogens in Iowa. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, the first being cigarette smoking. In Iowa alone, radon causes around 400 deaths every year, and five out of every seven homes in the state contain a radon level above 4.0 pCi/L, which is considered to be dangerously high. It is clear that radon gas is a major concern for homeowners in Iowa. So what should you do to find out if your home has elevated radon levels and to start the radon reduction process in your Iowa home?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color, no taste, no smell, and is chemically unreactive. These properties make radon impossible for the average person to detect on their own. This means that the only way to find out if your home has a radon problem is to invest in radon testing. Though you can buy DIY radon-testing kits, the best solution is to contact a qualified radon tester for professional radon testing. This gives you more accurate results for increased peace of mind.
It is important to understand where radon comes from and how it works. Then you can get an idea of what to do if radon is discovered in your Iowa home. Radon comes from the soil, where it is produced during the decaying or uranium in the ground. As the radon seeps up through the ground, it may enter your home through cracks in the foundation. Radon can also invade your water, especially if your home has well water. For radon reduction in Iowa to prevent these problems, contact Ameriserv Radon Mitigation today.
Radon Reduction in Iowa from Ameriserv
First, you should have your home tested for radon to determine the radon levels in your home. Radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L are considered hazardous. Since radon has no visible or easily detectable signs, the only way to find out the concentration of the gas in your home is to administer a radon test:
DIY Radon Testing: This is a less expensive (we offer DIY testing kits for $15) option, and while DIY tests are usually not a completely accurate representation of radon levels in your home, they can give you a good idea of any problems. If your DIY radon test result is positive, it should be followed by a professional radon test.
Short-Term Radon Testing: This is a professional radon test that can be administered in 3-90 days, and is usually a good way to find the general radon levels in your home. If your short-term radon test indicates a high concentration of radon, you may want to consider long-term testing.
Long-Term Radon Testing: This is the most thorough of our testing methods. Long-term test normally take about 90 days or more, and give you a much more accurate idea of average radon levels in your home throughout the year.
If you have invested in multiple radon tests, and they all indicate high levels of radon, it is time that you considered some radon reduction methods from Ameriserv. In as little time as a single day, we can install a radon mitigation system that will greatly reduce the radon levels in your Iowa home. These systems use PVC pipes and fans to channel radon from low areas such as the basement out of the home, keeping you and your family safe from the dangers of radon.
Contact us right away to learn more about our radon testing and reduction methods in Iowa.
Carcinogens are defined as any substance that is directly related to causing cancer. There are a number of different types of carcinogens that work on the body in various ways to cause cancer. Many of these substances are radioactive, but a carcinogen does not have to be radioactive to cause cancer. Most people think of carcinogens as man-made materials and chemicals, but certain carcinogens exist naturally. In order to best protect yourself from the risk of developing cancer, it is important to be aware of the most common carcinogens in your area, and to take the necessary steps to avoid them. If you live in Iowa, one of the carcinogens that you need to be concerned about is radon.
Radon is a radioactive gas, a carcinogen, that occurs naturally as part of the decaying process of uranium. Most often, radon is produced by decaying uranium in the soil, where it seeps up into the air and enters your home. If you breathe too much of this gas over time, it can increase your chances of developing lung cancer.
The properties of radon make it very difficult to detect:
Colorless
Odorless
Tasteless
Very Dense
Chemically Unreactive
These characteristics make radon undetectable by the human senses. The best way to check for a radon problem in your home is to invest in radon testing and mitigation services from a professional mitigation company. The team at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa can help you ensure that the radon levels in your home are not at an unsafe level.
Testing for Radon in Your Iowa Home
It is important to the health of you and your family that you test your home for radon and invest in mitigation services to reduce the radon levels if they are too high. In the United States, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind only tobacco. In the state of Iowa alone, lung cancer caused by radon exposure kills over 400 people every year: five out of every seven homes in the state have elevated radon levels. So how do you protect yourself from this invisible, undetectable carcinogen?
The best way to ensure you and your family are not exposed to radon is to have your home tested for radon. Radon Testing in Iowa can determine the level of radon in your home and help you decide whether or not you need to investigate mitigation methods to get rid of the gas. Here at Ameriserv, we offer a couple of different testing options – short-term tests, long-term tests, and even DIY radon-testing kits. If your home has a radon level of higher than 4.0 pCi/L, it is time to get professional help.
Contact the radon mitigation and testing team at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation as soon as possible. We are committed to keeping Iowans safe from this harmful environmental carcinogen.
Here at Ameriserv Mitigation, we offer both long term and short term radon testing for your Iowa home. However, if you are not willing to spend the money on professional testing unless it is completely necessary, we do have another option – DIY radon testing kits. These kits are available for purchase from Ameriserv for fifteen dollars. Though they are a good starting point, DIY radon test kits are not completely accurate, and if a high level of radon is detected with the test kit, it is advised that a professional take a look at your home.
Radon testing kits are normally a much more affordable and relatively simple option when compared with professional short term or long term radon testing. To use a radon testing kits, there are a couple of essential steps:
First, ensure that all the windows in your home are shut, and that all the doors are closed. This will help to produce the most accurate results possible.
Next, place the detector in an area where it will not be disturbed for the duration of the test, which usually takes from 48-96 hours.
Make sure that you follow the directions that come with the kit to get an accurate reading.
You will most likely have to send the detector to a lab to find out the results of your do-it-yourself in home radon test.
Once the results are in, you can determine whether or not you need to take any further action. Normally, a radon level above 4 pCi/L is considered to be unsafe. If the radon kit detects a level close to or over 4 pCi/L in your home, you may want to contact a professional to do further testing and determine whether or not you should install a radon mitigation system in your Iowa home.
Benefits of Radon Kits in Iowa
There are a couple of benefits to using radon kits such as the kind from Ameriserv to shcek the radon levels in your home. First, DIY radon kits are much cheaper than professional tests, meaning that you can get an idea of radon levels in your home without spending more money than you need to. Another benefit is that DIY kits generally take a lot less time than even short term professional tests. This means less hassle for you and your family. Using a DIY radon kit in your Iowa home is a great way to help you make sure that radon does not cause you any problems.
Although DIY radon kits are a good way to start learning about the radon risks in your home, they are not as conclusive as professional tests. That is why it is important to follow up your DIY test with a professional test and mitigation services if high levels of radon are observed. Radon test kits from Ameriserv should only be used for personal tests, not for real estate transactions – If you are selling your home, have a professional radon test done. Contact us today for more information.
The first step in protecting yourself and your family against the dangers of radon exposure is learning about radon – what it is, why it is dangerous, how to avoid exposure, etc. Radon levels in Iowa are especially high. That is why it is vital for you to check your home for signs of elevated radon levels and have any issues taken care of as soon as possible. Contact Ameriserv Radon Mitigation for professional assistance in these areas.
What is radon, and why is it dangerous? Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the decaying or uranium in the earth. When the uranium decays, lead and radon gas are formed. The radon gas travels up through the ground and into the air around or in your home. Eventually, the radon will decay into radioactive particles that can make their way into your lungs. The breaking down of these particles results in small energy bursts that cause lung tissue to become damaged and may even lead to lung cancer over time. Second only to smoking, radon exposure is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States. To keep you and your family safe from radon, it is important to have your home tested and to invest in radon mitigation services to remove harmful radon gas from your home.
Dangers of Radon Exposure in Iowa Homes
Facts about radon gas and the dangers of radon exposure in Iowa homes include:
Children reported to be at greater risk for some radiation-source cancers
Five out of seven homes in Iowa have elevated radon levels
Radon exposure combined with smoking pose significant threat
Testing and mitigation can reduce chances of radon exposure
Several studies have been conducted in Iowa showing the high levels of radon in the state lead to health problems. These studies have also revealed that 60% of the radon levels in homes studied were above the amount considered to be safe.
Ameriserv offers both short term and long term radon testing to prevent radon exposure in Iowa. Short term testing is a good way to determine whether or not you need to take further action. If elevated levels are found with the short term test, it is a good idea to administer a long term test to be sure. If it is found that your home does have high radon levels, invest in radon mitigation from Ameriserv. This will remove radon gas from your home using a PVC pipe and fan system connected to a suction point in the slab of your home’s foundation.
To learn more about radon exposure in Iowa, contact Ameriserv and look around our website.
By now, many people are aware that there is a strong link between radon exposure and cancer. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, affecting more than 15,000 people each year. If you live in Iowa, your chances of dying from radon exposure are high – every year, around 400 Iowans die due to radon exposure.
First, a breakdown. What exactly is radon? Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is released during the decay of the elements uranium, thorium, and radium. This decay is a process that occurs in rocks and soil. Once the gas has been released, it makes its way through the ground and distributes into the air above. Radon is present nearly everywhere – everyone breathes in radon on a daily basis, although the amount is generally not large enough to be of concern.
When radon is present in large concentrations within a home, that is when the trouble starts to develop. There are many ways that radon can enter your home:
Floor Cracks
Foundation Cracks
Use of Well Water
Wall Cracks
Building Materials
Radon can seep through cracks in your home and may be released through well water or building materials as well. If your home is well-insulated and sealed off, there is a more of a chance that the radon levels in your home will be higher than average.
Radon Connected to Cancer in Iowa Residents
Any concentration of radon above 4pCi/L is considered dangerous. Prolonged exposure to such levels of radon could result in the development of lung cancer. Scientists began to notice the effects of radon during a study done on underground uranium miners, who were dying of lung cancer at above average rates. Further studies showed that rodents who were exposed to high levels of radon were more prone to develop lung tumors. More studies were done later comparing the radon levels in the homes of those who had lung cancer and those who did not. The research showed that higher radon levels produced a higher risk of lung cancer.
Radon causes cancer by decaying quickly, giving off small radioactive particles in the process. These radioactive particles damage the lining cells in the lung when they are inhaled. If a person is exposed to radon long-term, this damage may eventually result in lung cancer. Although there have been speculations of an increased risk of leukemia due to radon exposure, lung cancer is the only cancer proven to be linked directly to radon.
The only way to tell if there are elevated radon levels in your home is by testing. That is why it is important to have your home tested for radon as soon as possible. Ameriserv Radon Mitigation can help you find out if there is a radon problem in your home with our numerous radon testing methods. We will also help you take care of elevated radon levels with our radon mitigation services. Contact us today to see our Iowa service area and to get more information. Learn more about radon here.
It is always important to take all of the necessary steps to protect you and your family from the dangers of radon. If you live in Iowa, however, the chances that your home could have a radon problem are even higher than if you live in most other states. This is because the average level of radon in a home in the state of Iowa is well above the highest percentage that is considered safe. If you have not already done so, have your Iowa home tested for radon. If radon is discovered in your home, do not panic. Call the experts at Ameriserv radon mitigation of Iowa as soon as possible.
As seen from this map of radon zones, the Northern and more central states tend to have higher concentrations of radon. The state of Iowa is located in one of the red zones, where radon concentration is highest.
Such high concentrations of radon in your home can cause serious health issues. The colorless, odorless gas known as radon is one of the foremost environmental carcinogens. Each year, around 400 Iowans die due to radon exposure, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
How to Reduce Radon Levels in Your Iowa Home
Since all of the counties in Iowa have a predicted average indoor radon screening level higher than 4 pCi/L, it is vital that you have your Iowa home tested for radon right away. This level of radon exposure is considered dangerous, and should be taken care of immediately. Here at Ameriserv, we provide a couple of different options when it comes to radon testing. The types of radon testing we offer include:
Short Term Radon Testing
Long Term Radon Testing
DIY Radon Test Kits
Short Term radon testing uses a few different methods (charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers, continuous monitors, and liquid scintillation detectors) over a period of three to ninety days to monitor the radon levels in your home. Long term testing requires more than ninety days, and can give you a more accurate idea of the year round average radon level inside your home. DIY radon testing kits are an inexpensive way to take the first step in figuring out whether or not your home has a radon problem.
If you do find high levels of radon in your home, invest in radon mitigation services from Ameriserv. We will install a ventilation system that utilizes a suction point in the slab of your foundation, PVC pipes, and fans to clear radon gas out of your home.
If you live in Iowa, consider contacting Ameriserv to have your home cleared of radon today. Call us now for more information!
Elevated levels of radon in your home could be a major health concern for you and your family. Five out of every seven homes in Iowa have elevated levels of radon in them. Every year, about 400 Iowans die due to radon exposure, which is the number two cause of lung cancer. This is why it is so important to make sure that your home is free of radon. Ameriserv can help you with all of the tests and precautions to prevent radon from causing health issues for you and your family.
We offer several different options for radon testing as well as radon mitigation. Our professionals can administer short-term and long-term tests to check the radon levels in your home. We also offer a $15 dollar at home radon detector kit so that you can begin the radon testing process on your own.
By what should you do if you think you may have been exposed to radon? The first step to take if you suspect radon exposure is to look for the common symptoms that are associated with prolonged exposure to high levels of radon. These symptoms include:
Lung Infections
Persistent cough
Wheezing
Heavy breathing
These are a few of the common signs that you may have been exposed to radon. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is important to seek help immediately in order to prevent any further health problems. Mor information on the health risks of radon can be found on the EPA Radon Guide webpage.
What to Do to Prevent Radon Exposure in Your Iowa Home
Most major health problems associated with radon take several years to develop. That is why it is vital to take care of any radon problems in your home right away to prevent prolonged exposure.
This can be done by first administering radon tests in your home. If you think you have already been exposed to radon, it may be wise to try a short-term radon test. This can give you an idea of the radon levels in your home. If the test results show a high radon level, contact a professional for further testing, or to have a radon mitigation system installed.
Ameriserv can install a radon mitigation system to effectively reduce the amount of radon in your home. To install this system, we drill a hole in your foundation to create a suction point. Next, attach PVC pipe to the hole to act as a vent for the gas. A fan is then used to make sure that the air flow is properly directed. With this system running continuously, radon will be able to exit your home, reducing the health risks for you and your family.
Contact the experts at Ameriserv for more information on what to do if you suspect a radon issue in your home, and check out the EPA Radon Guide for even more information. We offer quality testing and mitigation services to those in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area.
