What should be done if radon levels are found to be high in a home?

When high radon levels are detected in a home, investing in radon mitigation strategies is the appropriate and effective response. Radon, a colorless and odorless radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water, can accumulate indoors and pose serious health risks, including lung cancer, particularly in high concentrations over time.

Mitigation strategies typically involve reducing radon levels to recommended safety standards. This may include methods such as improving ventilation, sealing cracks and openings in floors and walls, and installing radon mitigation systems that actively reduce gas levels. By investing in these solutions, homeowners can ensure a safer living environment and lower their health risks associated with long-term exposure to radon.

Other actions, such as leaving the house, ignoring minor levels, or sealing windows and doors, do not effectively address the issue. Leaving might provide a temporary escape but does not solve the problem or provide long-term safety. Ignoring minor levels does not eliminate the risk of increased exposure over time, and simply sealing windows and doors may not adequately address the ways radon enters a home, primarily through cracks in the foundation and other porous pathways. Therefore, proper mitigation is essential for ensuring health safety in affected homes.