Is radon bad in Tennessee?

Is radon a problem in Tennessee? Yes. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) considers radon to be a very serious problem in our state.

What gives off radon in a home?

Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house is in contact with the ground: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.

Does opening windows reduce radon levels?

Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.

Where are the highest radon levels?

Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:

• Alaska (10.7)
• South Dakota (9.6)
• Pennsylvania (8.6)
• Ohio (7.8)
• Washington (7.5)
• Kentucky (7.4)
• Montana (7.4)
• Idaho (7.3)

Can you live in a house with radon?

The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place.

Should I worry about radon gas?

Risks, levels and reduction High levels of radon can cause lung cancer, particularly for smokers and ex-smokers. Radon produces tiny radioactive particles in the air we breathe. Radiation from these particles damages our lung tissue, and over a long period may cause lung cancer.

What are the symptoms of radon in your home?

A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.

• Persistent cough.
• Hoarseness.
• Wheezing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing up blood.
• Chest pain.
• Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Loss of appetite.

Is it OK to live in a house with radon?

Does finishing a basement reduce radon?

Again, the only way to ensure you are removing radon from your home is with a mitigation system. Sealing the basement floor can help, but just sealing the cracks is unlikely to reduce your radon levels in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings would be a better step.

Does sealing a basement floor reduce radon?

Sealing the basement floor can help reduce the amount of radon entering the home. But just sealing the cracks would be unlikely to reduce those amounts in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings (over 10 MILS dry film thickness) would be a better step.

How long do you have to be exposed to radon for it to be harmful?

If a person has been exposed to radon, 75% of the radon progeny in the lungs will become harmless lead particles after 44 years. When a particle damages a cell to make it cancerous, the onset of lung cancer takes at least five years, but often takes 15 to 25 years and even longer.

Do all basements have radon?

Basements aren’t the only place you can find radon. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Unfortunately, it’s also very wrong. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement.