Friday, 1 April 2011

How to Protect Your Family From Radon Gas

!: How to Protect Your Family From Radon Gas

Number one cause of cancer
It's common knowledge that smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and it makes sense. With all the chemicals flowing through the lungs consistently each and every day, the chemicals cause regular cells to mutate into cancer cells and then they spread throughout the body.

Radon causes lung cancer
The same principle follows with the second leading cause of lung cancer, which is radon gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radon kills 21,000 people by way of lung cancer each year. About 2,900 of those people were not even smokers. Radon can also be found naturally in drinking water, which is another way it enters our bodies.

Radon gas can be found everywhere naturally. But it's especially found in enclosed spaces like mines, homes, and basements. It's a gas no human can smell or see, which makes it dangerous because there's no way to know for sure that you have a radon problem just by smelling it or looking for it. To put this into perspective of how dangerous radon gas can be to your health, the third leading cause of lung cancer is second-hand smoke.

The most threatening side effect of radon gas is lung cancer. It is the only physical malady proven to be linked to radon exposure. According to the EPA, smokers have an even higher risk of getting lung cancer when exposed to radon because they have more carcinogens passing through their lungs at a consistent rate.

Since the gas permeates our lives quite literally, we are constantly breathing it in and out with each breath. The gas is both inside and outside as it comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in our soil and water. Radon is a form of radiation, which may be why it affects us like other radiation forms do. Since the gas is all around us, we have to be vigilant about watching the gas levels in the spaces we inhabit.

The quick fix
Testing for radon levels is the easiest way to find out if you have radon gas in your office or home. Testing kits can be found at hardware stores or online and you can set them up. You will need to follow the instructions very carefully so test results are not skewed however.

Another option is to have a radon mitigation contractor do a radon reading at your home to see what levels of the gas are present. This is a great value because the contractor can also tell you how to best keep radon out of your home or office. Whether your test results come back with high levels or low levels, they can give you tips on how to best protect yourself and family from the gas. If you do end up needing a radon mitigation system, a certified radon contractor will be able to complete the job correctly. Doing it yourself could save you money initially but the chances are high that at some point a contractor will need to come in to get the radon levels as low as possible.

The radon reading catch
The EPA recommends that buildings with 4 pCi/L (pico Curies per Liter) or more take action and have the building mitigated for radon. The difficulty with this is that many people then think levels lower than 4pCi/L are safe.

The reality is though, is that even at a level of 1.3 oCi/L in a building, 2 out of 1,000 people may still get lung cancer. As a country we still do not understood enough about radon and the risk it poses to each of us. This means the best way to protect ourselves is to go on the offensive against radon.

The take home message here is, radon can still harm you, even with only small amounts. This isn't being written as a scare tactic, but to make people aware of what radon can do, so they can protect themselves and their family.


How to Protect Your Family From Radon Gas

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Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Radon Test at Latta Pavillion by a Charlotte Home Inspector

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Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Crawl Space Liners For Healthy, Energy Efficient Homes

!: Crawl Space Liners For Healthy, Energy Efficient Homes

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How Crawl Space Liners Benefit Air Quality

To safeguard the indoor air quality crawl space liner systems are manufactured using a heat laminating process to chemically bond all the materials together. In the best liner kit systems, no glues are used, so there is no emission of Formaldehyde. Unlike conventional insulation products, crawl space liners will not cause itching or skin rashes and will not hold moisture, eliminating a place for mold to grow. Energy Star rated liners have a closed cell foam vapor barrier sealed between outer skins of interwoven white scrim and aluminum foil that is extremely easy to cut and work with (this is why certain liners are Energy Star Rated and qualify for Obama's "Cash for Caulkers").

By creating a dry environment in the crawl space or basement, the moist, damp and musty conditions that promote the growth of mold spores/allergens are eliminated. When mold is left un-treated and mold spores begin to mix with the indoor air, the air quality is reduced dramatically and can cause serious respiratory problems as well as other ailments.

Energy Star Rated (cash for caulkers)

Liners that meet the reflectivity and insulation values help cut the homeowner's energy costs. Look for products that have been awarded the 2010 Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Certification. This certification can earn up to a 00 savings on taxes if the homeowner qualifies - and most do!

Homeowners can expect lower energy costs year-round when installing a Energy Star rated liner kit. Summer energy costs for running the A/C are also reduced because less energy is needed to cool dry air. The big plus to the reflective aluminum foil is it holds heat in while denying the entry of water, insects and natural but yet poisonous gasses, such as Radon.

Homeowners and contractors should look for the white scrim side of the heat shield liner kit because the finished look transforms any raw space into a safe, clean Storage or living area without the exorbitant expense of a major renovation. Homeowners looking to cut costs should look for liners with the Do-It-Yourself option. The best value a homeowner gets from installing crawl sapce liner system is that they just improved the indoor air quality and health of their home from the time of installation with no waiting, while also helping out the planet at the same time.


Crawl Space Liners For Healthy, Energy Efficient Homes

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Wednesday, 9 March 2011

The Hazards of Tap Water

!: The Hazards of Tap Water

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"Is your water safe to drink?" I've asked this question myself many times, when visiting friends and family, and in desperate need of re-hydration. If you are skeptical about the quality of drinking water, you are not alone. Approximately 86% of Americans will not drink water straight from the tap. Many are opting to buy water, or even "make" their own, yet pet owners are still offering tap water to their pets. This is having serious effects on the health of our loved ones. Intrigued? Read on!

What's In Your Water?

While the government does have regulations and guidelines for tap water, many known toxins and carcinogens are present. Some are even put there intentionally! Here's what might be in your water:

·Chlorine- added to water and used as a bacteria retardant and pathogen deterrent. This chemical can actually react with healthy nutrients to form cancer-causing agents in the body.

·Fluoride- added to water, and believed by some to strengthen tooth enamel, preventing cavities. Recent studies have shown, however, that fluoride can adversely affect organs and be carcinogenic

·Lead- Many cities' plumbing structures are nearly 100 years old! Is it any wonder that lead may be leaking from old pipes and fixtures?

·Arsenic and Radon- These contaminants enter the water a number of ways, including industrial pollution and run off from fields and farms using pesticides and herbicides.

·Rocket Fuel (perchlorate)- No, it's not the latest caffeine boosted soft drink. It's a very hazardous chemical known to cause thyroid cancer and many other physical problems.

·Bacteria and Parasites- Generally enter through the ground water supply, especially if there is heavy run-off, sewage pollution, landfill, or animal waste. This might include the potentially deadly strains of coliform or e. coli.

What's a Pet Owner to DO?

Obviously, if the water in your home is unsafe for human consumption, we should not be giving it to our pets. Many of the same illnesses and diseases caused by toxic taps apply to pets as well as humans. What to do? If you watch the evening news, you've probably learned that bottled water is not all it's cracked up to be. Bottled water has even fewer regulations than city tap water, and often the water you buy in the supermarket is water from the tap, not from the beautiful mountain spring pictured on the label.

·Be sure your water is coming from a reliable source- research as much as you can about your brand of bottled water.

·Try to find water in glass bottles. Plastic bottles can break down and cause more harmful toxins to be leached into the water.

·Know the difference between the many types of waters (mineral, spring, drinking, distilled, etc).

·Consider a home filtration system. Many reputable water specialists can fit your faucet or plumbing with a filter to remove many of the toxins and chemicals listed above.

If you live in a rural area, and have a private well, be sure to have your water checked yearly, specifically for bacteria, lead, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, and other toxins. Your water specialist will likely recommend a home filtration system.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Drink to your pet's health... Cheers!


The Hazards of Tap Water

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Thursday, 3 March 2011

Protection from Cell Phone Radiation Are EMFs Hazardous to Our Health?

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www.emfnews.org www.emfnews.org Can electromagnetic fields (EMF) from power lines, home wiring, airport and military radar, substations, transformers, computers and appliances cause brain tumors, leukemia, birth defects, miscarriages, chronic fatigue, headaches, cataracts, heart problems, stress. nausea, chest pain, forgetfulness, cancer and other health problems? Numerous studies have produced contradictory results, yet some experts are convinced that the threat is real. Dr. David Carpenter, Dean at the School of Public Health, State University of New York believes it is likely that up to 30% of all childhood cancers come from exposure to EMFs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns ""There is reason for concern"" and advises prudent avoidance"". Martin Halper, the EPA's Director of Analysis and Support says ""I have never seen a set of epidemiological studies that remotely approached the weight of evidence that we're seeing with EMFs. Clearly there is something here." Concern over EMFs exploded after Paul Brodeur wrote a series of articles in the New Yorker Magazine in June 1989. Because of Paul Brodeur's reputation. his articles had a catalytic effect on scientists, reporters and concerned people throughout the world. In November 1989, the Department of Energy reported that ""It has now become generally accepted that there are, indeed, biological effects due to field exposure." The EMF issue gained more publicity in 1990 when alarming reports appeared in Time ...

Protection from Cell Phone Radiation Are EMFs Hazardous to Our Health?

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