Ameradon Services
 Radon Testing & Radon Mitigation Contractor

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Facts Myths about Radon

"Radon causes more deaths each year than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer combined" 

  • Radon is the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in the U.S.
  • Radon is the Leading Cause of Lung Cancer for Non-Smokers
  • Radon is a Group One Carcinogen Known to Cause Cancer in Humans
  • The Average Indoor Radon Level in the U.S. is 1.3 pCi/L (*pico curries per liter)
  • The Average Outdoor Radon Level in the U.S. is 0.4 pCi/L
  • All New Homes Constructed in Minnesota Require a Passive Radon Mitigation System (June 2009)
  • The Median Radon Level in Mankato Homes is 5.7 pCi/L (MSU Radon Project)
  • 70% of Mankato Homes Have Radon Levels Above the EPA Action Level for Repair (MSU Radon Project)

    Who Says Radon is a Problem?
    American Cancer Society (ACS),     American Lung Association (ALA), American Medical Association (AMA), American Public HealthAssociation (APHA), MN Department of Health (MDH), National Academy of Sciences (NAS), U.S. Surgeon General, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), World Health Organization (WHO), American Association of Radon Scientist and Technologists (AARST)

U.S. EPA Radon Publications for Homeowners
Citizens Guide to Radon:  http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/citizensguide.pdf
Home Buyer's & Seller's Guide to radon:  http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/hmbuygud.pdf
Minnesota Department of Health Radon Brochure:  http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/radonconbrochure.pdf  

Radon Myths and Facts
MYTH: Scientists are not sure that radon really is a problem.
FACT:  Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year.

MYTH: Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
FACT:  Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire the professionals at Ameradon Services, LLC to test for you.  Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort.

MYTH: Homes with radon problems can't be fixed.
FACT:  There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs.  Ameradon Services uses EPA radon mitigation standards with every installation and we guarantee our work.

MYTH: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
FACT:  House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.

MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT:  High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.  Southern Minnesota is an EPA Zone 1 area with average indoor radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L (pico curies per liter).

MYTH: A neighbor's test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT:  It's not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.

MYTH: It's difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT:  Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated.  The added protection is some times a good   selling point.  Test before you are ready to market your home.

MYTH: I've lived in my home for so long, it doesn't make sense to take action now.
FACT:  You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you've lived with a radon problem for a long time.

MYTH: Short-term tests can't be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT:  Short-term test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.*

*If the radon test is part of a real estate transaction, the result of two short-term tests can be used in deciding whether to mitigate.   

 EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.  TEST YOUR HOME FOR RADON.

Cancer Deaths Comparison      Radon Cancer Deaths

Facts About Lung Cancer

  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
  • Lung cancer kills more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. 
  • Radon induced Lung cancer kills 85% of newly diagnosed patients within five years.  
  • Lung Cancer kills more women each year than breast cancer.
  • Approximately 50% of the people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked or are former smokers.

Lung cancer gets few of the research dollars because of the perception it is self-inflicted by smoking - In 2003, approximately $1,740 was spent on research per lung cancer death, compared with: $13,649 per breast cancer death, $10,560 per prostate cancer death and $4,581 per colorectal cancer death.

 

 

Ameradon Services, LLC
12 Jaymar Drive - Box 368
Lake Crystal, MN 56055
507-304-3537