Homes tightly sealed against cold winter winds might keep it warm inside, but that could allow the home to become “hot” in an entirely different sense. That “heat” is from radioactivity that, if left unaddressed, could lead to cancer.
Every home has some level of radioactivity that results when naturally-occurring Uranium in the soil beneath the home undergoes nuclear decay, producing other radioactive isotopes in the process, including Radon about halfway through the 14 different steps on the way to becoming lead. And while Radon lasts only a few days, when it, in turn, decays to Polonium, it gives off a burst of radiation in the process. And since it’s a gas, radon can get deep into the lungs at just the wrong time, raising one’s risk of developing lung cancer every time an atom decays. According to the US Surgeon General, long-term Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to cigarettes. Adding cigarettes to Radon in the home increases the risks to everyone in that home.
Radon mitigation typically costs around $1,200 but that can vary, and not every home needs it. The only way to know is to have your home tested. During January, the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health makes limited amounts of short-term tests available from their North 8th Street headquarters for $5, and long-term tests for $10. Any home that has a level of 4 and above should be treated for Radon, and likely will have to be treated before the home can be sold.
If you’d like more information, Contact the Sheboygan DPH during regular business hours, or visit LowRadon.org.
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