Radon can cause lung cancer
Radon is a radioactive gas that can damage our cells. Our lungs are affected by the radiation when we breathe in the gas, which can eventually lead to lung cancer. The gas is found everywhere in our underground, where it seeps up through cracks and crevices and finds its way into our homes. The Danish Health Authority estimates that radon in homes is a contributing factor in around 9 per cent of all new cases of lung cancer. This equates to around 300 people a year, which is almost double the number of people who lost their lives in traffic in 2020.
The longer you live in a house with radon and the higher the concentration, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the Danish Health Authority, it typically takes between 10 and 40 years from the start of exposure until lung cancer may one day be diagnosed.
How to minimise radon in your home
- Make sure to ventilate all rooms several times a day - consider a mechanical ventilation system, which can reduce radon by up to 90 %.
- If there are any visible cracks in your floor, make sure to close them.
- If your home is going to undergo a major renovation anyway, consider having it radon-proofed.
Measure the level in your home
Since 1998, there has been a requirement for new houses to be radon-proofed. In 2010, it was clarified that radon levels in new buildings must not exceed 100 Bq/m3 indoors. As a result, many older homes are not radon-proofed, and they also have more cracks and leaks.
There are two ways to measure the radon level in your home. You can either have a professional specialising in radon measurement or you can do it yourself using a dosimeter. Hang it up for 2-3 months during the heating season in the rooms you use the most and then send it for analysis. If the radon level is below 100 Bq/m3, you don't need to do anything, but if it is higher, you need to bring it down.
Consider investing in a ventilation solution
DUKA Ventilation has participated in several projects investigating whether ventilation can reduce the occurrence of radon. The results have been extremely positive, and the incidence of radon has been reduced by up to 90 %. Added to this are the additional benefits of ventilation in terms of a good indoor climate with fresh air around the clock, minimised heat loss and the removal of moisture from the home - all of which contribute to a healthy indoor climate.
We recommend DUKA One, which is a ventilation solution that ventilates the room 24 hours a day. For 70 seconds, the system sucks out stale and moist air, storing heat in the unit's ceramic core. After 70 seconds, the system's motor reverses and blows in fresh air that is heated by the ceramic core. This constantly changes the air, ventilating away particles and moisture and saving you money on your heating bills as the heat in your home is recycled. We install DUKA One directly in the outer wall and can be installed wherever there is a need for ventilation.
