
Cancer risk: Why you should have the radon levels in your property measured
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) warns that radon-containing air can enter buildings through the ground. Buildings without a continuous concrete foundation slab and buildings constructed before 1960 are particularly affected. The region in which the property is located is also decisive for the concentration. Radon levels in the soil are particularly high in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. You can check the radon concentration in your region on a map provided by the BfS.
Lung cancer risk from radon
Radon is a noble gas that cannot be detected without special measuring devices. This is because it has no odor that is perceptible to humans, nor can it be tasted or seen. We breathe it in without noticing. This would not be a problem if radon did not cause lung cancer. According to the BfS, around five percent of all deaths from lung cancer are attributable to radon. The higher the concentration of radon in the air and the longer we breathe it in, the higher the risk of lung cancer. Since radon rises from the ground, the concentration in basements is usually particularly high. However, radon can also be found in the air on upper floors. If you are concerned about radon in your own home, you can easily have the radon levels measured. Special measuring devices are available from various suppliers. They cost between $30 and $50.
What can be done about radon in the air?
But what should you do if high radon levels are detected in your property? As a first step, regular ventilation can already bring about an improvement. The aim is to replace all the air in the room within a few minutes. In windowless basement rooms where this is not possible, the radon-containing floor air can also be extracted if the floor is permeable enough. This must be clarified individually with a specialist. If the gas rises from the basement into the rest of the living space, it can also be helpful to seal doors, pipes, and other connections to the upper floors.
Would you like to know how radon-containing air affects the value of your property? Contact us. We will be happy to advise you.
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