Ohio Mitigation License # RC202
Our Licensed Radon Company in Youngstown can provide you with Radon Testing and Mitigation Services.
Radon is found in many Youngstown, OH homes and is a known carcinogen. It is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Next to smoking, exposure to this lethal gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Exposure to radioactive material is most dangerous when confined in an enclosed or restricted area such as the basement of a home.
The levels of radon vary considerably from day to day and season to season. The levels also vary by geographic area. There may be elevated levels in homes along one suburban street but safe levels elsewhere.
Youngstown is the county seat of Mahoning County in northeast Ohio. Being 65 miles from Cleveland and 61 miles from Pittsburg, PA, Youngstown is often considered part of the greater Pittsburg tristate area.
John Young founded the city in the late 1790s. The township was approximately 15,600 acres in size. Young purchased the entire area for about $1 per acre. It took only a matter of a few months for the first settlers to arrive.
Youngstown continued to grow and prosper. It was officially incorporated in 1802.
The late 1800s saw the first steel mill. This new industry had a tremendous influence on the growing community. During the second world war, the steel mills refocused their efforts, the resulting increase in production meant new jobs.
During the war, the population surged, so much so that housing became a significant problem. The population in 1920 was over 130,000. Youngstown quickly became the fifth-largest city in the United States.
As the steel industry went into decline, so did Youngstown. In 2000, the population had dropped to 82,000.
There are numerous schools in the area offering excellent primary and secondary education. The city is well served by professional police and fire department personnel as well as a number of hospitals and medical centers.
As radium decays, it gives off a colorless, odorless gas. Over time, the gas moves to the surface through natural fissures in the underlying rock and soil. It enters the home through imperfections in the foundation, collecting in enclosed spaces such as a basement or living areas located on the ground floor.
Radon is extremely dangerous. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's statements, the gas is the number one cause of deadly lung cancer, next to tobacco smoking.
Although it can and does pose serious health issues, there is good news. Testing and mitigating are quite simple to accomplish. In homes where test results indicate a significant gas concentration, a professionally installed mitigation system can considerably reduce the levels.
Testing for radon can be done by the homeowner using a DIY kit or by knowledgeable professionals. DIY test kits have limitations. In addition, the captured samples have to be sent off to a testing lab. If the DIY test apparatus is not set up correctly or the kit is disturbed, the results may not be accurate.
This is not expensive, and homeowners can rely on the test results. Radon Eliminator is the premier testing and mitigation company in the Youngstown area.
Many environmental factors can affect the level found in a home. The levels can be affected by the time of year, any home improvements made, the addition of new appliances, living patterns, and more.
Because of the variables, testing should be carried out whenever a change of magnitude occurs in the home. Although the numbers vary, levels are always higher in the lowest levels as the gas is heavier than air.
Ohio has particularly high levels of radon. The levels in Youngstown vary considerably, from as low as 0.1 to a high of 50pCi/L. With such variables, testing should be carried out at least twice a year. If elevated levels are found, immediate remediation should be undertaken.
According to the EPA, any exposure poses a danger. Elevated levels beyond the national average of 4 pCi/L indicate the need for immediate mitigation.
When radon is inhaled, minute radioactive particles are drawn into the lungs, where they become trapped. Over time, the particles build-up, increasing the risk of lung cancer. The problem is not immediate. It takes years before the appearance of health problems.
People who smoke and people exposed to the gas are at a far greater risk of developing lung cancer. In homes that have been tested for radon, and the results indicate a level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), remedial action is important.
Developing serious health problems from exposure depends on other issues:
It has been suggested that exposure may also contribute to non-malignant respiratory disease, but the potential is not as great as is the risk of lung cancer.
The type of system depends a great deal on the design of the house, especially the foundation. The design of the foundation can impact the method employed to reduce the toxic level.
The most common solution to ridding a home of this deadly gas is a soil suction system. The mitigation contractor installs a ventilation pipe under the lowest point in the house. In most homes, the lowest point is below the basement floor.
The ventilation pipe is fitted with a fan that pulls the gas from the enclosed environment, exhausting it to the outdoors. The mitigation specialist also seals cracks in the foundation, making the system even more effective and efficient.
Once the system has been installed, a second test is conducted. The only way to determine the effectiveness of the system is by testing.
Once a professionally installed mitigation system has been installed, it must be monitored and maintained. Periodic testing is still required to ensure the system continues to work properly.
Radon is dangerous, and Ohio is one of the worst areas for elevated levels of the gas. Rather than risk the lives of you and your family, contact Radon Eliminator, Ohio’s No.1 testing and mitigation company.
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