Radioactive elements and isotopes, even in small quantities, can cause health problems in the population, animals, and the living world.
Radon is a radioactive gas without color, taste, and smell. All radon isotopes are radioactive, and there are over thirty different radon isotopes. It forms in the soil and is a consequence of the radioactive decay of uranium, which founds in rocks and soil.
The level of radon in nature is small but indoors can reach high concentrations. As a chemically inert gas, radon leaves the place of formation (soil, construction material, water) and passes into the atmosphere.
Therefore, removing radon gas from houses is of first-class importance.
Modern research has shown that 40% of the total radiation dose form by inhalation of natural radioactive gas Rn. Exposure to radon in higher concentrations and over a long period, especially in areas with uranium mineral deposits, may increase the chance of developing cancer lungs.
Radon belongs to the same group of cancer causes as asbestos and tobacco smoke. Based on this, radon is one of the significant health risks to the population.
Below, read more about the possibilities of removing radon gas from your house.
How to Remove Radon from Your Home
Factors affecting indoor radon concentration
Radon enters the indoor space from these sources:
- by diffusion from the soil,
- diffusion from building materials,
- by diffusion from the water used in your house,
- from the atmosphere through vents,
- Through cracks in floors or upstairs at the joints of structures, cavities around pipes and cables, small hollow pores in walls, and through the sewer.
Significant factors are the quality of construction, type of construction, ventilation, and seasonal climate change.
Because of the harmful effects of radon, an important task is - protecting and removing radon gas. In today's conditions, many human activities lead to increased radiation of radon gas and its side effects.
Preventive protection procedures are procedures to reduce the concentration to an acceptable level, and can be:
- radon collection and drainage system,
- improved ventilation under the floor,
- formation of overpressure in the building,
- closing openings and cracks,
- Improved ventilation in the building.
Removing radon gas from houses achieves by applying the following procedures:
- making a plate as a membrane for a part with reduced pressure (the purpose of this system is to form a vacuum area under the foundation, where radon collects and drains through pipes outside to a safe place)
- use of mechanical barriers to the entry of gases (plastic foils and sealing foundations and cracks stop the entry of radon)
- Degradation of the air distribution system so that polluted air is not used.
Drainage of polluted gases outside the building is done through pipes. In most family houses, one drain pipe is sufficient. If the floor is permeable, more drain pipes are required. There are active and passive under pressure systems. If you need to know more about this, please see this link.
You need to provide:
- Gas-permeable layer (layer usually 10 cm thick of clean, coarse gravel)
- Plastic foil (above the gas-permeable layer to prevent gas from entering the building)
- Ventilation pipe
- Sealing and closing cracks (all openings on the concrete bottom are closed to prevent gas from entering the building)
Increased air circulation under the floors, when the building has free space below ground, leads to dilution of radon.
Continuous measurements of radon concentration in the environment (air, water, soil, residential space), and planned, controlled construction,
It is possible to prevent the intake of high concentrations of this gas into the body.
