Radon, Carbon Monoxide, and Odors - Tom Rostron Co., Inc.

Radon

The E.P.A. recommends every home in the US should be tested for radon. Radon is a naturally occurring odorless radioactive gas that can be present in any home. It is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

Radon gas is produced by uranium deposits in water, soil, and rock. It enters a home through cracks in the foundation, unfinished basements, volitization during showers, and building materials. Radon gas is measured in Picocuries (pCi/L). If Radon is measured in a home at levels above 4 pCi/L, mitigation is necessary. Both the Surgeon General and the E.P.A. recommend testing and reducing elevated levels of radon.

To protect yourself from exposure to this pollutant, take the following measures to fix the problem:

Seal cracks in basements and crawl spaces to limit radon's ability to infiltrate the home.
Install a continuous fan, often called a radon fan, that vents above the roof line.
Install ERV/HRV equipment to reduce radon levels.
For best results use a combination of approaches or use other methods as outlined by the EPA

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is released when wood, gasoline, oil, kerosene, natural gas, and charcoal burn inefficiently. At moderate levels, CO can cause severe headaches, dizziness, impaired mental function, nausea, and shortness of breath. At high levels it can cause unconsciousness and death.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 1000 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands end up in emergency rooms. Because CO is odorless and colorless, and symptoms can look like common illnesses, the effects may not be recognized until it is too late.

Indoor Air Quality tips:

Have central air handling systems, including furnaces, flues, and chimneys, inspected and repaired annually. Even new furnaces are susceptible to damage and require regular maintenance.
Keep gas appliances, heaters, fireplaces, wood burning stoves, barbeques in good working order and ventilate them outside the home.
Make sure wood burning stove doors fit tightly. Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
Don’t idle cars inside an attached garage and prevent car exhaust from entering the home.
Install a CO detector on each floor of the home. Choose a model that can measure low levels of CO.

Odors

Many common products around the home (solvents, fragrances and cosmetics, carpeting, furniture, paint, hobby products, cooking, cleaning agents, pesticides, new flooring, tobacco smoke, and car exhaust) emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs, also known as odors ) into the air. Inside your home, these compounds can freely mix together. Individual VOCs are known to be harmful to human health and some are known carcinogens, such as formaldehyde. Introduction of new furnishings can be a major source of VOCs in the home.

Indoor Air Quality tips:

Avoid using particleboard, which often contains glues that give off VOCs.
Air out dry-cleaned items outside the home.
When remodeling, use gypsum, plaster or wood. Avoid materials made of plastic or wood fiber.
Use low VOC paints and air out rooms after painting.
Avoid using aerosol products and use low VOC cleaners.
Use glues and solvents only in a well-ventilated area.
Never leave a car, truck, lawnmower or other gasoline-powered machine running in an enclosed space.
Store recycling materials out of the home or keep them to a minimum when stored indoors.
Make sure the air intake for your home’s heating and cooling system is well above ground and upwind of local pollution sources.

Tom Rostron Co., Inc.

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