How Happy Are Your Feet? - Health & Fitness Magazine online!

It’s easy to start a new exercise program
or a new diet program and impact
one’s health positively. But when
the improvement received from these
known health boosters is less than expected,
it’s time to look for other factors
that may be impacting health.
Over the last few decades, research
scientists not only from the EPA but
from major institutions worldwide
have confirmed the idea that hidden
dangers in the home can contribute to
poor health. These dangers occur not
only from not cleaning the house properly
but also from problems with home
construction or natural geography.
Below is a list of 12 of these
insidious dangers that will be
addressed in this series.
1. Radon
2. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
3. Asbestos
4. Lead in old plumbing and on paint
that is chipping
5. New carpeting
6. Dirty heating and air conditioning
units
7. Mold from water intrusion
8. Inadequate bathroom ventilation
9. Humidifiers with stagnant water
10. Little known sources of bacteria
and microbes
11. Leaky dishwasher
12. Dust in the home and dust mites in
the bed
By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski
Is Your House
Contributing to Your Health?
uranium in rock, soil and well water. It
seeps into the home through cracks and
holes in the foundation. The gas passes
into the air you breathe and cannot be
seen, tasted or smelled. Radon is trapped
inside the home.
Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer
among non-smokers, causing 21,000
deaths per year (Source: EPA. 2003 Assessment
of Risks from Radon in Homes,
EPA #402-R–03-003) If you smoke and
your home has high radon levels, your
risk of lung cancer is especially high according
to the EPA.
Is Radon a Real Threat?
The EPA estimates that 1 out of every
15 homes in the U.S. has elevated radon
levels. Testing the home is the way to
discover if your home (or office) is affected.
Homes, schools and office buildings
should be tested and only takes a
few minutes of your time.
If your home’s radon level is 4 picocuries
per liter (pCi/L) or higher, you’ll need
to take action and protect your family
from this harmful gas. Radon reduction
systems are not too costly and can reduce
this hidden killer by up to 99%. Every
state has a governmental radon office for
qualified testers and information about
radon problems in schools, daycare and
childcare facilities as well as workplaces
in your area. In the Sacramento area, call
916-449-5674. (See www.epa.gov/radon)
How is Radon Testing
Accomplished?
Part 1
HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT
The EPA has designated January as National Radon
Action Month to increase the public’s awareness of
the health risks that arise from radon.
Put the testing device in a room frequented
often by household members
excluding the kitchen or bathroom, 20
inches above the floor away from drafts,
heat, humidity or exterior walls. Leave
the kit there undisturbed for the required
time period. Then reseal the package and
send it back to the lab. Your results will
be ready in a few weeks.
IF your water supply is the source of
contamination, a whole house filtration
system is the best solution. Radon is removed
from water by granular activated
carbon filters (GAC) or aeration systems;
however, GAC filters can collect radioactivity
and may be considered a toxic
waste. Discuss solutions with your state
radon office.
Our first hidden danger addressed
in this issue is Radon.
The EPA has designated January as National
Radon Action Month to increase
the public’s awareness of the health risks
that arise from radon.
What is Radon and How Does It
Affect Us?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas emanating
from the natural breakdown of
Testing is quite easy. Tests can be either
short-term (2 to 3 days up to 90 days)
or longer. Obtain a charcoal canister,
electret ion chamber, alpha track, continuous
monitor or a charcoal liquid
scintillation detector and test your home
for 90 days.
Close your windows and doors during
the test. Don’t bring in outside air from
fans or other devices; HVAC systems
are fine and may be turned on. Also,
don’t conduct the test during severe
storms or high winds.
My Home is High in Radon; Now
What?
If your home is found to be high in radon,
a soil suction radon reduction system
can be installed which is a vent pipe
system and fan that pulls radon from
beneath the house and vents it to the
outside. Combined with sealing foundation
cracks make this system more costefficient
and more effective. The EPA
recommends that you use a state-certified
and/or qualified radon mitigation contractor
to fix any radon problems.
Resources
• Order test kits from the National Safety
Council/EPA by phone by calling 1-
800-SOS-RADON (767-7236).
• Obtain EPA radon publications from the
number above or the Indoor Air Quality
Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-
438-4318.
In our next issue, find out about how electromagnetic
radiation can affect your health.
January Edition 2009
33