I have radon in my home 4.5 and I have just sent in my 2nd. test. No one will do anything about it except it would cost me money I dont have. I dont know what to do. Its a poisionous gas and I am breathing it every day and every night after my cancer being removed and have to come home to this. I am just scared and not sure what to do. I have had 5 animals die from cancer in my home in the last 5 years and until I was dx'd with lung cancer did not have a clue about this gas. I am not saying that this gave me my cancer, I was a smoker 26 years ago, but everything I have read about it is very scary. I dont know why our government could care less about it and why there is not a program to help someone like me get it fixed where the income is not there. I have been off work for 2 months with no paycheck (due to my surgery) and am not sure when I can return to work.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. thanks
diane
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radon
14 replies
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- Newest first
- By Chum
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 9:40 am
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Open the windows. The radon comes through the floor - seeps up through cracks. The way it is "treated" is to put pipes or some such device below the house to funnel it to the outside. If you have a concrete cellar floor, another way to help is to paint the floor. But opening the windows really should help.
Courage
Chum
- By LTLCS
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 10:09 am
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The American Lung Associataion might have an idea being they have all the info on Radon. They are the ones that state Radon is the number 2 cause of LC.
Call your local News Paper. You might have a very interesting story here. Or call your State Officials and see what they say.
Good Luck,
Connie
- By magazine2
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 8:02 pm
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Thanks for the info. But its freezing, so I dont think I can open the windows all winter. I am going to call the newspaper if I dont hear back soon from the government officials that I have written to.... I will keep you posted.
diane
- By robinwd
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm
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Please do, because I have wondered the same thing. I've lived in this house for 16 yrs. Cheapest remediation is about $1500, and there are just more important things to pay for...like a new roof this past spring. My level was at 8.0, and that was when I had three dogs and consequently was opening the basement door at least 10 times a day for potty breaks!! All three of them died of cancer...but NOT lung, and supposedly it is the only kind it causes. One had leukemia, one had bone and one had liver. If you find anyone who can help, please let me know!
- By robinwd
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 9:56 pm
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Just noticed that you are in St. Charles. My mom and sis live in Warrenton!
- By magazine2
- Posted January 5, 2009 at 11:32 pm
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Hi, well that is not to far from me. Wow your level is really high. I am so sorry you lost your animals also, it can cause alot of problems. I think gee, just got lung cancer surgery and now back to the poison gas, breathing it every day and every night, I am doing my best to write to whoever I can, I think that our health is important and I guess our government does not.
diane
- By scared1
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 7:02 am
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Hey guys I went thru the radon thing a few years ago. To make a long story short we had a few drains and an open sump pump (if you can see the H2O its open) in our basement. I bought a cover for the sump pump and taped it down with duct tape. Plastic and tape will work as well. I covered the drains with plastic and tape. Droped the levels below 1.
- By scared1
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 7:02 am
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Hey guys I went thru the radon thing a few years ago. To make a long story short we had a few drains and an open sump pump (if you can see the H2O its open) in our basement. I bought a cover for the sump pump and taped it down with duct tape. Plastic and tape will work as well. I covered the drains with plastic and tape. Droped the levels below 1.
- By ERed1
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 8:24 am
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Radon... keep a few things in mind. scared1 mentioned about having an open pit for the sump pump... he is correct to cover it... but keep in mind that some homes have french drains as well. In NJ 4.0 pic. is the limit in homes some other states is 10 + which is scary. People get radon tests when they are in the process to buy their homes... but what about those living in their homes for 20 years+ & they are spending a lot of time in the basements. Basement Bedrooms & Basement Family Rooms should be tested. These tests are not expensive and you should have two canisters... not one... when testing... place the two canisters at different ends of the basement. The windows must be closed for this test. Radon levels are higher after it rains and in the winter time from my experience. Ventililation is key... the systems starts around $1200 and up. All new construction in NJ should have a radon venting system installed or at least the piping for it. Some areas are more prone to it but you can have one house that has a high level and the house next doesnt.
Elena
- By robinwd
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 9:45 am
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Elena, you are right about the incidence being sporadic. We live in an area with a karst topography, which is where radon is most prevalent. There is no requirement for testing when selling an existing home, but I think there is a requirement that new construction must have a vent system. Scared1 mentions taping...I only have the one floor drain, and I did tape it with duct tape....subsequent test was higher than the first!! I have no cracks in the basement floor; my basement is only 1/2 underground. And, whether it makes any difference or not, the walls are covered with 1"-thick insulation panels.
As an interesting aside...during my occupational health career, I learned that asbestos (which is a naturally occurring carcinogen in the soil) exposure is just as high in natural environs as in industrial exposure.
- By magazine2
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 9:51 am
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well have any of you experienced anyone getting cancer from the radon or getting sick, I know the one man said he lost 3 animals, as I did also. It would seem you would need alot of test kits if you were to check everyplace in your home. Who knows, it may not be in one spot, but loaded in another. Its like so many things to think about, diet for your cancer, radon, etc.... its just overwhelming and when you have to make these decisions by yourself, even worse.
diane
- By Jolene
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:21 am
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I would get information locally on what the cost would be to get this done. Then go from there. When funds are short, it is one more things to add to your scared list. Possibly a fund raiser in your local community might help. Go to corporations that make
items to vent the home, tell them your story and see if they are willing to contribute, donate, or whatever.
We all have to humble ourselves in life at one time or another and I feel you deserve whatever you can get as soon as possible. Hugs from Iowa. Jolene
- By magazine2
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:56 am
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thanks so much. I have called channel 2 news and see if they will have any input. I h ave called several places and really dont get a good feedback. I will keep trying though.
Thanks for you kind thoughts....
diane
- By ERed1
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 8:42 pm
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Here is a link to the Cancer Institutes page regarding Radon. http://www.cancer.gov/cancerTopics/factsheet/Risk/radon
Sometimes you will get a higher reading than the first. Especially if you have the house closed up tight... sometimes by opening up the windows it really creates an initial vacuum which draws out the radon gas. New Construction homes are really air tight & that also creates an environment which you deal with mold & radon(if you don't have a vent system in). I deal with radon all the time as a realtor. My clients sometimes do not want to spend the extra $40 but I ALWAYS make them get it. When I explain the hazard they change their minds really quickly.
Elena
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