With an increasing awareness of the dangers of radon in new buildings, more and more states are adopting Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) guidelines. According to the EPA, “All of the techniques and materials (needed during the radon resistant new construction process) are commonly used in home construction. No special skills or materials are required when adding radon-resistant features as a new home is being built.”
To see the full article on how to ensure your home is constructed to avoid radon exposure problems, follow this link.
Basically, the EPA has five materials that builders should use while constructing a home to mitigate radon infiltration. They are: gravel, plastic sheeting/vapor retarder, vent pipe, sealing/ caulking, and a junction box. The costs of meeting Radon Resistant New Construction guidelines are, according to the EPA, “certainly cheaper than radon mitigation after the fact.”
An important caveat to homeowners and buyers, however: Remember that “Radon Resistant” does NOT mean “Radon Proof”. RRNC doesn’t remove radon from a home; it simply prepares a home for the addition of more piping and a radon fan. Once that fan is properly installed and activated by a certified radon professional, then the home - while still not radon proof (there is no such thing) – can be protected from high radon levels. Only with a full, activated radon reduction system can you help to ensure a safe and healthy living environment for you and your family.
Posted by Stephen Turcotte
Posted Date: July 1, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Tags: radon fans, radon remediation, Radon Resistant New Construction
Filed under: Radon Testing and Awareness
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Acting Surgeon General Steven K Galson has issued The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes, which outlines measures that American people can and should take to ensure their homes are as healthy and safe as they can be. These often simple steps can prevent death and injury and are mostly inexpensive and easy to implement.
The Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes is for everyone who has an impact on or stake in housing, including individuals, community groups, home lenders, developers, builders, and policy makers. It is a response to the continuing prevalence of preventable health hazards in many homes like radon, lead paint, house fires, falls, and drowning. Some steps to protect your family are: installing home radon test kits , testing for lead paint, installation of smoke detectors, putting up bath railings, and many more. Click here for a checklist of what you need to make your home healthy.
The goals of the call to action are to:
- Ensure Healthy, Safe, Affordable and Accessible Homes
- Increase Public Awareness and Promote Health Literacy
- Conduct Healthy Homes Research
- Translate Research into Practice and Policy
To read the whole Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes, click here.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: June 10, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Tags: healthy homes, radon test kits
Filed under: Home Ownership / Home Improvement
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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America declares May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” The EPA has developed resources for event organizers to use in educating the public about how to recognize and prevent allergy and asthma triggers and how to treat these asthma and allergic reactions. You can even see Asthma Awareness events in your area by clicking here.
Asthma and allergy symptoms are particularly apparent at this time of year when pollen is at a yearly high and when the trees are coming into full bloom. Some other asthma triggers, as outlined by the EPA include: Indoor and outdoor environmental factors like: dust mites, molds, cockroaches, pet dander, and secondhand smoke. The EPA says, though, that asthma can be controlled “with a plan that includes medicine and control of environmental triggers” and that “people with asthma can lead healthy, active lives.” Indoor air quality can be greatly improved by removing environmental triggers with proper ventilation in the kitchen and in the bathroom, and also by using a whole house HEPA air purifier.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, the top 5 Spring Allergy Capitals in the US are:
1. Louisville, KY
2. Knoxville, TN
3. Charlotte, NC
4. Madison, WI
5. Wichita, KS
Continue reading "Asthma & Allergy Month" »
Posted by Stephen Turcotte
Posted Date: June 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Tags: allergy, asthma, ventilation
Filed under: Asthma
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Where is the Outrage?
Secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually in the U.S. So far, swine flu has killed 4 Americans, and drunk driving kills about 13,000 people each year. Radon is estimated to cause 25,000 U.S. lung cancer deaths annually. Laws protect citizens from secondhand smoke and drunk drivers, and millions of dollars are being spent on swine flu prevention, yet except for a very few states that have radon awareness laws, no one is protecting us from deadly radon gas right in our own homes.
The U.S. EPA, the U.S. Surgeon General, the World Health Organization and many organizations such as the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society acknowledge that the research on radon is sound and compelling. And yet, although most states, municipalities and the federal government do not allow smoking indoors in public buildings, restaurants, ballparks and - in some localities - public parks and beaches, no law exists in the U.S. that requires citizens to protect themselves against radon.
Where is the fear? Where is the outrage? Cigarette packs are required to carry a warning about the dangers of smoking. Where are the labels on homes? Where are the requirements to perform a simple radon test on every home to ensure that it does not have high levels of radon? Would you allow your child to play all day in a smoke-filled room? Any rational person would answer No to that question. But do you know whether your child is playing in a room filled with invisible, odorless radon gas? Most people would also have to answer No to that question.
Continue reading "Radon Kills 6x More People than Secondhand Smoke!" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: May 18, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Tags: health fears, lung cancer, radon, radon deaths, secondhand smoke, smoking, swine flu
Filed under: Indoor Air Quality and Allergy, Parenting and Family, Radon Testing and Awareness
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Gloria Linnertz, a spokesperson for Cancer Survivors Against Radon and The American Association of Radon Scientists & Technologists, Inc. is encouraging people to write to their congressmen and women to ask them to work for effective radon policies that save lives. The following is an open letter that can be personalized to encourage your senator or representative to take action against radon, the silent killer, today.
Continue reading "Further Radon Legislation Needed" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: May 5, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Tags: radon legislation
Filed under: Radon Testing and Awareness
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Smoking cigarettes and radon exposure are two well known causes of lung cancer, so it makes sense that if a person is around cigarette smoke and exposed to radon, their chance of developing lung cancer increases. EPA studies indicate, though, that when these dangerous elements are combined, they work "synergistically" to make the risk of developing lung cancer even higher.
According to the EPA, "about 62 people in 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer."
Continue reading "Radon Exposure and Smoking" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: at 12:07 PM
Tags: radon, smoking, test kit
Filed under: Radon Testing and Awareness
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The 10th Annual State of the Air report issued by the American Lung Association gives an overview of how healthy the air where you live is. There is even a feature where you can input your zip code and find out statistics for the air where you live, including: high ozone days, particle pollution, and groups at risk.
The overview of our nation’s state of the air reveals that six out of ten Americans don’t have healthy air. Air health is measured by how much ozone and particle pollution is present in any given area. These air pollutants cause symptoms ranging from shortness of breath to heart attacks. Other statistics from the air health report are:
• 40.5 million Americans live in counties where the outdoor air failed all three tests.
• Only one city—Fargo, N.D.—ranked among the cleanest in all three air pollution categories covered in State of the Air.
Continue reading "How Healthy is Your Air?" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: at 11:59 AM
Tags: annual state of the air report, ozone, particle pollution
Filed under: Outdoor Air Quality
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Indoor air quality can often be worse than outdoor air quality. While we may seem more aware of outdoor air quality due to shifts in temperature, smog, ozone, etc., we are often desensitized to the indoor air quality of our own homes and offices since this is where we spend much of our time and we're used to it. Being aware of your indoor air quality is a very important step in preventing indoor air pollution released from cooking fumes, chemicals in cleaning products, dust and dander, radon, mold, and others.
Here are some tips to improve indoor air quality in your home which will provide allergy relief and asthma relief for those who suffer from these afflictions. These tips were inspired by an article at WebMD.
Keep it natural. Any cleaning chemical you use in your home is bound to end up in your home air. Turn to natural cleaners like lemons and baking soda or use environmentally friendly detergents and cleansers.
Get Rid of Dust. Whether you have carpets, tiles, or hardwood floors, it's very important to keep dust to a minimum. Dust is composed of so many potential irritants like pet dander, dead skin, chemical matter, lead (if the home has or had lead paint), that it is critical to mop, vacuum and/or sweep often.
Monitor your home's level of humidity. Prevent mold by keeping your house at between 30-50%. This can be achieved by using a dehumidifier or an air conditioner combined with proper ventilation.
Test your home for radon gas. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The US EPA recommends that all homes be tested for radon with a home radon test kit. If radon gas is found to be present in the home at unsafe levels, a radon remediation system including a radon fan should be installed immediately.
We do many of these things all the time to keep our home's appearance clean; but, with a little extra attention and effort, you can improve your indoor air quality and protect your family's health.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: April 2, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Tags: allergy relief, asthma relief, radon fan, radon remediation
Filed under: Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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This map created by the EPA identifies the areas of the U.S. with the potential for elevated indoor radon gas levels. The map has 3 different colors that indicate three different levels of potential elevated radon gas levels. Red areas have the highest potential for radon gas. Orange areas have a moderate potential of elevated indoor radon gas. Yellow areas have a low potential of elevated indoor radon gas.
If you live in one of the areas for potential elevated radon gas, you may feel worried and helpless about how to prevent yourself and your loved ones from being exposed to radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Keep in mind, though, that radon levels can be elevated in any home, anywhere in the country – even in Zone 3 areas where levels are statistically low according to the map. Radon gas comes from decaying uranium in the soil that can seep through cracks and holes in a house or building’s foundation. Any home or building may have a radon gas problem. This radon gas map is intended by the EPA to be used by municipalities in determining radon building codes. The EPA recommends that all households, regardless of potential exposure to indoor radon gas, test for radon. Order a home radon test kit today.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Tags: EPA map, radon gas, radon test kit
Filed under: Radon Testing and Awareness
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Air Purifiers are used by many homeowners to rid the air of impurities, but did you know that air purifiers even help get rid of dust? Have you ever wondered where all the dust in your home comes from? It seems like not a day goes by without my having to dust something, so I decided to get to the root of the matter and find out exactly what the dust on my furniture is made from.
You may be shocked to discover that a significant amount of dust is made by you! According to some sources, humans shed 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells every minute. And when you add pets to the mix, watch out! Just think how many dead skin cells might be floating in your air or in the chair you’re sitting in right now. It’s kind of scary.
Dust also makes its way into our homes from the air outside that contains everything from volcano ash to pollen, and though dust may seem like just another annoying household chore demanding our attention, it can contain dust mites that can cause serious allergies. Regular vacuuming can help. Air Purification Systems with HEPA filters, and central vacuums are also effective in combating dust. Learn more about various indoor air quality solutions by clicking here.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Tags: air purifiers, central vacuum, dust, HEPA
Filed under: Dust
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