Asbestos ƒe tɔtɔ, lifi ƒe ke, kple radon ƒe agbɔsɔsɔ fũ¶

Ƒe sia ƒe la, aƒetɔ miliɔn geɖe, aƒehayalawo, kple aƒedzraɖola siwo wɔa wo ɖokuiwo trɔa aƒedɔ si wowɔna edziedzi le kwasiɖanuwuwu alo ahom ƒe dzisasrãwo dzadzraɖo edziedzi wòzua aɖi ƒe nuwɔna kpata le vo me. "Popcorn" ƒe dzisasrã si tsi gblẽ si wotu do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1990-awo tutu, vinyl anyigba ƒe xɔtunu xoxo siwo ƒe didime nye sentimeta 23 kple 23 (inch 9 kple 9) vuvu, pɔmpi ɣi siwo le gbagbãm le anyigbaxɔdzo me ƒe fuɖename, amadede ƒuƒu si le ʋuʋum le fesre si wotu do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1978 dzi, alo keke ɖe xɔme radon gas si xlẽ zi ewo le etame ŋu seɖoƒe siwo le dedie nye afɔku gã aɖe na amesiame si le aƒea me.

What makes asbestos fibers, lead dust, and radioactive radon gas uniquely treacherous is how people misjudge their immediate danger. Using a regular household vacuum cleaner or a broom on suspected asbestos or lead dust is the single worst mistake you can make: standard vacuum exhaust blasts millions of invisible, sub-micron toxic particles into the air throughout every room of your house. Conversely, fleeing a house in a panic over a high radon gas detector reading misunderstands how radioactive alpha decay acts over time. Knowing how to immediately wet down, contain, and seal an acute asbestos or lead dust disturbance without spreading it, when to order a childhood venous blood lead test, and how to ventilate and remediate high indoor radon protects your family's lungs and neurological health.

Wɔ esia fifia¶

1. Stop all drilling, sanding, scraping, sawing, or tearing immediately. The moment you uncover fibrous pipe wrapping, crumbling ceiling texture, brittle backing paper under old linoleum, or multi-layered peeling paint in an older home, put your tools down and stop working. Intact, undisturbed asbestos and lead paint pose almost zero airborne hazard while sealed inside walls or under intact coats of paint; mechanical friction is what releases breathable fibers and toxic dust.
2. Shut off your central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and all ceiling or box fans immediately. Walk to your thermostat and switch the furnace or central air conditioner fan from "Auto" or "On" to OFF. If a return-air vent or floor register sits in the room where dust was disturbed, cover the grille immediately with heavy plastic sheeting and painter's or duct tape so airborne fibers or lead dust cannot be sucked into the ductwork and blown into bedrooms.
3. Mist the disturbed debris and surrounding air lightly with soapy water before stepping out. Fill a hand-held garden or cleaning spray bottle with cool water mixed with a few drops of liquid dish soap (dish soap acts as a surfactant / wetting agent that breaks water surface tension so droplets penetrate hydrophobic asbestos fibers and heavy lead dust instantly). Spray a gentle, fine mist into the air above the dust and over the broken material until visibly damp, taking care not to blast the pile with a hard water stream.
4. Evacuate children, pregnant women, and pets from the work area and seal the room door. Children under age 6 and developing fetuses face permanent neurodevelopmental harm from ingesting or inhaling microscopic lead dust, and young lungs have decades ahead for latent asbestos fibers to cause disease. Close the doors and windows of the affected room, tape a sheet of 6-mil polyethylene plastic over the doorway if dust is heavy, and place a rolled damp towel along the bottom floor gap.
5. Strip off dusty work clothes and shoes BEFORE walking through the rest of the house. Never sit on upholstered couches, hug family members, or toss dusty renovation clothes into the family laundry basket. Wipe your shoes with a wet disposable rag before stepping out of the room, peel off your outer shirt and pants inside out so dust stays trapped inside the fabric folds, seal contaminated clothing inside a heavy-duty plastic bag, and take a thorough warm shower (washing your hair and blowing your nose gently) right away.
6. If a home radon monitor or test kit shows high radon gas levels, do not panic or evacuate: ventilate lower floors and book confirmatory testing. Unlike carbon monoxide (which causes acute poisoning and death within minutes), radon is a chronic cumulative radiation hazard measured over months and years of exposure. If a digital radon monitor spikes above 148 to 400 Becquerels per cubic meter (\(Bq/m^3\)), or 4.0 to 10.0 picocuries per liter (\(pCi/L\)), crack open opposing basement windows to dilute soil gas temporarily, seal open basement sump pits, and contact a certified radon mitigation specialist to install a sub-slab depressurization fan.

Emergency hazard triage and containment flowchart¶

Use this decision tree to choose the right immediate response based on which residential toxin you have encountered and how severely it has been disturbed.

flowchart TD
    Start["Suspected Home Environmental Hazard:<br/>Asbestos, Lead Paint/Dust, or High Radon Gas"] --> HazardType{"Which hazard are you dealing with?"}

    HazardType -->|"Fibrous insulation, popcorn ceiling,<br/>old 9x9 tile, or cement board"| AsbestosBranch{"Was the material cut, sanded,<br/>drilled, or crumbling (friable)?"}
    HazardType -->|"Peeling paint, window friction,<br/>sanding dust in pre-1978 home,<br/>or lead water pipes"| LeadBranch{"Was paint dry-sanded/scraped<br/>or is a child/pregnant person exposed?"}
    HazardType -->|"High reading on digital radon detector<br/>or charcoal lab test kit"| RadonBranch{"What is the radon reading?"}

    AsbestosBranch -->|"Intact and undamaged"| LeaveAsbestos["Leave Alone and Encapsulate:<br/>Do not disturb; monitor condition annually"]
    AsbestosBranch -->|"Small drill hole or minor chip<br/><0.1 sq meter (1 sq ft)"| MinorAsbestos["Immediate Wet Containment:<br/>Shut off HVAC, mist with soapy water,<br/>wear P100 respirator, wet-wipe and double-bag"]
    AsbestosBranch -->|"Major collapse, sanding, or friable pipe wrap"| MajorAsbestos["Seal Room and Call Licensed Abatement:<br/>Strip dusty clothes, shower immediately,<br/>order polarized light microscopy (PLM) lab test"]

    LeadBranch -->|"Active renovation dust or peeling chips"| LeadContain["Wet-Clean with Two-Bucket TSP/Detergent:<br/>Isolate children/pregnant women immediately,<br/>never sweep or use household vacuum"]
    LeadContain --> BloodLead["Medical Follow-Up:<br/>Request venous blood lead level (BLL) test<br/>for children <6 and pregnant women"]

    RadonBranch -->|"100 to 199 Bq/m3 (2.7 to 5.3 pCi/L)"| RadonLongTerm["Perform 90-Day Alpha-Track Test:<br/>Seal basement foundation cracks and sump lid;<br/>mitigate if average exceeds national action level"]
    RadonBranch -->|"200+ Bq/m3 (5.4+ pCi/L) or above"| RadonMitigate["Schedule Certified Radon Mitigation:<br/>Ventilate basement when occupied;<br/>install active Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD)"]

Comparing the "Big Three" hidden residential toxins¶

Homeowners often confuse how asbestos, lead, and radon enter the body, which eras of housing are at risk, and which respirators or filters actually work. Review this clinical and building-science comparison table before taking action.

Emergency Protocol 1: Accidental asbestos disturbance during home repairs¶

Asbestos is the commercial name for six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals: chrysotile (white serpentine asbestos, accounting for roughly 90 to 95 percent of residential building materials) and five needle-like amphibole varieties (amosite [brown], crocidolite [blue], tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite). Because asbestos resists fire, heat, electricity, and chemical rot, it was mixed into over 3,000 residential building products throughout the 20^th century.

Friable versus non-friable asbestos: assessing your actual risk¶

Environmental health agencies divide asbestos-containing materials (ACM) into two risk classes based on whether the fibers can be crumbled by hand pressure alone:

1. Friable asbestos (Highest immediate danger): Any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by simple hand pressure. Because fibers are loosely bound, minor impacts release clouds of breathable fibrils.
2. Loose-fill attic vermiculite insulation (Zonolite): Pebble-like, accordion-folded silver-gold or grey-brown mica pellets poured between attic joists (most famously mined from Libby, Montana, between 1919 and 1990, which was contaminated with highly toxic tremolite-actinolite amphibole asbestos). Never disturb, shovel, or store boxes in an attic with loose vermiculite insulation.
3. Corrugated cardboard-like or chalky white pipe and boiler insulation: Wrapped around basement steam or hot water pipes and furnace elbows.
4. Sprayed-on acoustic "popcorn" (stipple) ceilings applied between 1945 and the mid-1980s.
5. Paper-like whitish-grey backing sheet underneath old sheet vinyl linoleum and papery white duct tape wrapped around metal heating boots.
6. Non-friable (bonded) asbestos (Low risk unless sawed, sanded, or shattered): Materials where asbestos fibers are locked tightly inside a hard cement, asphalt, or vinyl resin matrix. They release fibers only if you cut them with an abrasive saw, sand them, drill them dry, or shatter them with a hammer:
7. 23-by-23-centimeter (9-by-9-inch) vinyl composition floor tiles and the black asphalt "cutback" mastic glue underneath them.
8. Transite / fibro-cement exterior siding shingles, corrugated garage roofing panels, and cement flue pipes.
9. Drywall joint compound (mud) and textured wall plaster applied before 1985.

What to do right now if you just drilled, scraped, or broke suspected asbestos¶

If you just drilled into an old ceiling or wall, scraped a patch of popcorn texture, or knocked loose a piece of basement pipe insulation, stay calm and execute this step-by-step containment protocol:

1. Understand the dose-response reality: Doctors and toxicologists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC / ATSDR) and the UK Health Security Agency emphasize that asbestos diseases (mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis) are predominantly linked to cumulative, repeated exposures over months or years, or extreme disaster clouds. A brief, accidental one-time home repair disturbance carries a very low lifetime health risk, provided you stop work immediately and clean up the dust wet rather than spreading it for weeks with a dry broom or vacuum.
2. Put on a P100 / P3 respirator and disposable gloves: Before re-entering the dusty room to contain the spill, put on a half-face elastomeric respirator fitted with magenta P100 (or European P3) particulate cartridges and disposable nitrile gloves. If you only have an N95 or FFP2 disposable mask on hand in the first 5 minutes, wear it strictly to mist the debris and close the door, then wait for a proper P100 respirator before wiping surfaces.
3. Shave-foam drilling trick and wet-misting:
4. Spray the disturbed patch, any fallen crumbs, and a 2-meter (6-foot) radius of the floor generously with your soapy water spray bottle (1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap per liter/quart of water).
5. (Tip: If you ever have to back a screw out of suspected asbestos board, spray a thick mound of shaving cream over the screw head and turn the screwdriver slowly right through the shaving foam so 100 percent of dust is trapped in the wet lather.)
6. Pick up debris and perform the "One-Pass Wet Rag" wipe:
7. Never reuse a cloth towel. Use wet paper towels or disposable wet baby wipes.
8. Tutu anyigba alo anyigba si xɔ dzo la dzi le mɔ ɖeka, ƒo tututua ɖe afã me be kea nalé eme, tutu zi ɖeka ake, eye nàtsɔ tututu ma aƒu gbe enumake ɖe 6-mil (0.15-millimeter) polyethylene plastic bag si wɔa dɔ sesẽ la me. Mègatsɔ avɔ ƒoɖi aɖe gbugbɔ de tsi dzadzɛ ƒe gaze me gbeɖe o, si ɖeko wòkaka kaawo ɖe anyigba.
9. Do ɖe anyi eye nàtsɔe abla nugbɔ gbagbã ƒuƒlu la:
10. Once the loose dust is wiped up, seal the raw, torn edge of the remaining ceiling, wall, or pipe insulation so it cannot shed more fibers. You can brush a thick coat of high-build latex primer/paint, spray clear acrylic lacquer, cover small pipe insulation tears with wet plaster-impregnated fiberglass medical casting tape or heavy foil HVAC tape, or bridge a hole with premixed drywall compound without sanding it.
11. Double-bag all waste and clothes:
12. Place all wet rags, disposable gloves, and debris inside the first heavy plastic bag, twist the neck into a "gooseneck," fold it over, and wrap it tightly with duct tape.
13. Place that sealed bag inside a second heavy plastic bag, label it clearly, and check with your county or municipal hazardous waste facility for homeowner asbestos drop-off rules.
14. Have a laboratory test a small sample via Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM):
15. Màte ŋu** ade dzesi asbestos kple ŋku dzro o. Hafi nàxe dɔlar akpe geɖe ɖe asbestos dzi ɖeɖe kpɔtɔ alo ayi edzi adzrae ɖo ta la, haya asbestos dzikpɔla si si mɔɖegbalẽ le alo nàtsɔ ŋuɖɔɖɔɖo awɔ aŋɔ si ƒe lolome le abe asibidɛ ƒe ɖa ene si ƒe didime nye sentimeta 2 (inch 1) ƒe aŋɔ, xee ɖe aŋekotoku eve siwo dzi zip le me, eye nàtsɔe ayi na NVLAP alo UKAS asbestos dodokpɔ ƒe nudokpɔƒe si ŋu woda asi ɖo (zi geɖe la, exɔa 30 va ɖo 60 US dɔlar ɖeka ƒe ƒuƒoƒo kple gaƒoƒo 24 ƒe tɔtrɔ).

Kpata ƒe Ðoɖo 2: Lead paint dast, chips, kple tsi ƒe pɔmpi ƒe nɔnɔme kpatawo¶

To vovo na asbestos (si koŋ doa ŋɔdzi na lãkusiwo le ƒe bla nanewo me) la, lead nye ahɔhɔ̃mekawo ƒe aɖi sesẽ aɖe si ate ŋu ade aɖi ɖevi sue alo vidzĩ si womedzi haɖe o me le ŋkeke alo kwasiɖa aɖewo megbe. Lãmetsi srɔ̃a calcium le amegbetɔ ƒe ŋutilã me: ne ɖevi si le zɔzɔm le zɔzɔm to anyigba si dzi lifi ƒe ke si womekpɔna o ƒo ɖi eye wòtsɔ eƒe asibidɛwo de woƒe nu me la, woƒe dɔgbo si le tsitsim la xɔa lifi si womi** ƒe alafa memama **40 va ɖo 50 (ne wotsɔe sɔ kple ame tsitsiwo ƒe alafa memama 10), eye wòtsɔnɛ dea ahɔhɔ̃ si le tsitsim, lãmekawo, ʋumenugbagbevi dzĩwo, kple ƒuwo.

Afisi lifi ƒe afɔku sesẽwo ɣlana ɖo le aƒe xoxowo me¶

• Do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1978 ƒe ememe kple egodo ƒe amadede (vevietɔ do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1950): Wotsɔ lifi carbonate ("lifi ɣi") de aƒea ƒe amadede me le agbɔsɔsɔ si ade 50 le alafa me le eƒe kpekpeme nu be amadedea nanɔ anyi eteƒe nadidi, tsi mate ŋu age ɖe eme o, eye wòaƒu kabakaba. Afisiwo afɔku le wu le aƒe xoxo ɖesiaɖe mee nye afisiwo ʋuʋudedi kple ʋuʋudedi le: ati siwo wotsɔ ƒo fesre nu eve, fesre ƒe ʋuƒo, ʋɔtrutiwo, atrakpui ƒe afɔtiwo, ʋɔtrutiwo, kple akpata ƒe ʋuƒo, afisi fesre si wota la ʋuʋu kple etutu ko ƒoa lifi ƒe ke suesuesuewo ɖe xɔme kple anyigba gbesiagbe.
• Vodada siwo me afɔku le le nuwo ɖɔɖɔɖo me: Ne wozã power orbital sander, belt sander, heat gun si wɔa dɔ wu 590 degree Celsius (1,100 degrees Fahrenheit), propane torch si le dzo dam, alo dry scraper ɖe amadede xoxo dzi nana lifi zua dzudzɔ si gbɔa ya eye wòtsɔa avɔ ƒoa aƒea le ke si me aɖi le me.
• Lead drinking water service lines and brass/solder plumbing: Aƒe siwo wotu do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1986 le United States (alo do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1970 le UK kple Europa) ate ŋu anye lead service pipe si ƒe amadede nye aŋutiɖiɖi fafɛ, si ƒe amadede nye aŋutiɖiɖi si doa ka kple ablɔdzi tsidzɔƒea kple aƒea (ne ètsɔ gaku alo safui ƒo pɔmpia blewuu eye wògblẽ klosalo ƒe fli si le keklẽm, si le keklẽm ɖi si wɔa esia menye lé magnet o, enye lead) alo 50/50 tin-lead solder le akɔbli pɔmpiwo dzi.

Enumake mɔxexe ɖe enu kple "Two-Bucket + HEPA" kplɔa dzadzɛnyenye ƒe ɖoɖowɔɖi¶

Ne ètsɔ ati alo aŋɔ si wota la ƒu gbe, ƒoe, alo gbãe le vo me le aƒe aɖe si nɔ anyi do ŋgɔ na ƒe 1978 me la, wɔ ɖe Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) si United States ƒe Nutome Takpɔha (EPA) kple Aƒewo Kple Dugãwo ƒe Ŋgɔyiyi Dɔwɔƒe (HUD) ɖo anyi la dzi:

1. Na ɖeviwo, funɔwo, kple aƒemelãwo nanɔ dɔwɔƒe keŋkeŋ vaseɖe esime woawu dzadzɛnyenye kple kpeɖodzi si le tsi me nu.
2. Tsɔ anyigba le dɔwɔƒea te kple 6-mil plastic sheeting si wotsɔ tape bla ɖe gɔmeɖoanyiawo ŋu pɛpɛpɛ, tsɔ tsi si le atike si wotsɔna ƒua gbe ƒe aŋetu me ƒo amadede ƒe ƒuƒu ɖesiaɖe si woate ŋu akpɔ kple ke, ƒo aŋea ɖe eme tso gotagome goawo dzi ɖo ta titina be wòalé gbeɖuɖɔawo katã, eye nàtsɔe abla ɖe babla si wotu nu ɖo me be woatsɔ aƒu gbe.
3. Tsaka Eve-Bucket Wet Cleaning System la:
4. Bucket 1 (Wash solution): Tsi dzodzoe si wotsaka kple lead-specific cleaning detergent alo low-phosphate general-purpose cleaner / liquid dish soap (de dzesii: togbɔ be Trisodium Phosphate [TSP] si wozãna tsã la ɖea lifi ami ɖa nyuie hã la, lé ŋku ɖe nutoa me ƒe nutome sewo ŋu eye nàklɔe nyuie elabena TSP ƒe nugbagbevi siwo susɔ ate ŋu ana amadede si le keklẽm la naɖiɖi).
5. Bucket 2 (Clean rinse water): Tsi dzodzoe si le dzadzɛ, si me woate ŋu aklɔ lãgbalẽgolowo kple mop-tawo.
6. Klɔe tso kɔkɔƒe va ɖo bɔbɔe to afɔkpa siwo wotsɔna ƒua gbe zazã me:
7. Dze egɔme tso teƒe siwo kɔkɔ wu le tsia dzi (fesrewo tame, agbalẽdzraɖoƒewo, fesre ƒe xɔwo, kplɔ̃wo) eye nàwɔ dɔ vaseɖe gɔmeɖoanyiwo kple anyigba dzi la, tsɔ avɔ si wotsɔ tsi Bucket 1 me tutu akpa si ƒe lolome nye meta 2 sq (afɔ 20 sq) le ɣeyiɣi ɖeka me, emegbe nàtsɔ avɔ dzadzɛ si wotsɔ tsi Bucket 2 me, atutu film si me wode tsii la ɖa enumake pepa dzi afɔkpawo alo lãgbalẽgoewo ade aŋekotoku kpekpe aɖe me tsɔ wu be woagatsɔ lãgbalẽ ƒoɖiwo ade tsinyegoe dzadzɛa me.
8. Lala gaƒoƒo 1 hafi anyigba naƒu keŋkeŋ, emegbe nàgbugbɔ atutu tsi dzadzɛ si me tsi le zi evelia be nàlé ke ɖesiaɖe si le ya me si tsi anyi.
9. Klɔ ɖeviwo ƒe asiwo, notsilénuwo, kple fefenu siwo wotsɔa plastik wɔe: Klɔ fefenuwo, notsimɔ̃wo, aŋetuwo, kple teƒe siwo ke le le xɔ siwo te ɖe ŋuwò me kple adzalẽtsi dzodzoewo katã.
10. Ne tsi ƒe pɔmpi siwo me lifi le alo lifi ƒe gaƒoɖokui xoxo le wò aƒe me:
11. Klɔ pɔmpi me tsi fafɛ hafi anoe: Ɣesiaɣi si tsi bɔbɔ nɔ wò aƒeme pɔmpiwo me wòwu gaƒoƒo 6 (abe nu gbãtɔ si nèwɔ le ŋdi me alo ne ètrɔ tso dɔme ene) la, tsɔ dzodoƒe ƒe pɔmpi fafɛa ƒu du aɖabaƒoƒo 1 va ɖo 3 vaseɖe esime tsia nafa wòdze ƒã hafi nàde kɔfigo alo kɔfize me.
12. Mègazã pɔmpi me tsi dzodzoe hena vidzĩwo ƒe notsi nono, nuɖaɖa, alo tsakatsaka gbeɖe o: Tsi dzodzoe nana lifi si le pɔmpiwo kple akɔbli ƒe nutunuwo me la ƒua gbe kabakaba zi gbɔ zi geɖe wu tsi fafɛ. He tsi fafɛ si nèklɔ ɣesiaɣi eye nàtsɔe ado dzoe le dzodoƒe alo le tsize me.
13. Zã NSF/ANSI Standard 53 si ŋu woɖo kpee be lifi-ɖemɔ̃: De tsi si wotsɔa tsigoe alo pɔmpi dzi si ŋu woɖo kpee koŋ be ewɔ ɖe NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for Lead Reduction (alo NSF/ANSI Standard 58 Reverse Osmosis) dzi.

Ɣekaɣie nàbia be woawɔ dodokpɔ le Ʋu me Lãmetsiŋusẽ (BLL) kple nunyiame si xea mɔ na lifi ƒe xɔxlɔ̃ nu¶

Ne ɖevi si mexɔ ƒe 6 haɖe o, funɔ, alo nuwo ɖɔɖɔɖodɔwɔla do go ke si wotsɔ ke alo amadede si woɖe le aƒe tsitsi aɖe me la:

• Bia ʋuka me Ʋu ƒe Lãmetsi ƒe Agbɔsɔsɔ (BLL) dodokpɔ tso wò ɖɔkta gbɔ: Togbɔ be ʋuka me asibidɛ alo afɔkpodzi-ti ƒe ʋudodokpɔ kabakaba ɖea vi na dodokpɔ gbãtɔ hã la, ele be woatsɔ ʋuka me ʋu si woɖe tso alɔnu aɖo kpe asibidɛ-ti ƒe nuxexlẽ ɖesiaɖe si kɔ dzi (elabena lifi ƒe ke sue aɖe si le ɖevi ƒe asibidɛ ƒe ŋutigbalẽ dzi ate ŋu aƒo asibidɛ-ti ƒe tsitete alakpatɔe). Le CDC ƒe dɔdamɔnu ƒe mɔfiame siwo li fifia nu la, United States ƒe ʋu me lifi ƒe asixɔxɔ si woatsɔ akpɔe nye 3.5 micrograms le deciliter ɖeka me (\(\mu g/dL\)), togbɔ be womebu lifi ƒe agbɔsɔsɔ si woate ŋu adzidze le ʋu me be ele dedie keŋkeŋ o hã.
• Na nuɖuɖu si me Calcium, Iron, kple Vitamin C sɔ gbɔ ɖo: Esi amegbetɔ ƒe dɔgbo xɔa lifi to molecule ƒe mɔzɔla mawo tututu siwo wowɔ na calcium kple iron dzi ta la, dɔgbo ƒuƒlu alo iron/calcium ƒe anyimanɔmanɔ nana ɖevi ƒe ŋutilã xɔa lifi geɖe wu tso ke me. Nuɖuɖu siwo me calcium (notsi, yogurt, cheese, numiemiewo ƒe notsi siwo ŋu wodo ŋusẽe, aŋgba damawo), iron (lã dzĩ si me ami mele o, koklolã, gbe, nuku siwo ŋu ŋusẽ le), kple vitamin C (citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberry, tomatos, si doa iron ƒe xɔxlɔ̃ ɖe edzi) nana edziedzi ɖea gastrointestinal lead dzi kpɔtɔna ŋutɔ xɔxlɔ̃.

Kpata ƒe Ðoɖo 3: Radon gas si le xɔ me ƒe xexlẽme si sɔ gbɔ kple edzi ɖeɖe kpɔtɔ¶

Radon-222 nye ya si womekpɔna o, si meʋẽna o, si me keklẽŋusẽ le si uranium kple radium ƒe dzɔdzɔme keklẽŋusẽ ƒe gbegblẽ si le kpewo, anyigba, kple anyigba te tsi siwo katã kloe le anyigba ƒe gogloƒe te la wɔna ɖaa. Esi wònye be aƒe si me dzoxɔxɔ le alo ya fafɛ wɔa dɔ abe dzodoƒe si me dzo le ene (the stack effect) ta la, xɔme ya dzodzoe si kɔ yi dzisasrã siwo le etame la naa yaƒoƒo gbegblẽ vi aɖe nɔa wò anyigbaxɔdzo alo anyigbaxɔdzo ƒe xɔgbakpe me (zi geɖe la, Pascal 2 va ɖo 10 ƒe nyaƒoɖeamenu gbegblẽ). Vacuum ma noa anyigba ƒe gas doa goe le anyigba me to hairline concrete slab gbadzɛwo, sump pump do siwo wometre o, pɔmpiwo ƒe pɔmpiwo ƒe gege ɖe eme, crawl space dirt, kple concrete block cores me.

Ne wonya lé radon gas ɖe xɔ me ko la, egblẽna kple ŋkeke 3.8 ƒe afã ƒe agbenɔƒe zua ga kpekpe siwo me keklẽŋusẽ le siwo me elektrikŋusẽ le (radon dzidzimeviwo / vinyɔnuwo, vevietɔ Polonium-218 kple Polonium-214). Ne ègbɔ nu suesuesue siawo la, wotsia wò lãkusi ƒe aɖuɖɔtoe ƒe akpa si le tsɛ la dzi eye woɖea alpha keklẽŋusẽ ƒe akpa siwo ŋu ŋusẽ geɖe le siwo gblẽa nu le lãmenugbagbeviwo ƒe DNA ŋu, si wɔnɛ be wobu akɔnta be ame 21,000 kuna ƒe sia ƒe le United States eye ame 84,000 kple edzivɔ kuna ƒe sia ƒe le xexeame katã.

Dukɔwo dome radon-mɔ̃wo kple alesi wowɔa dɔe gɔmesese¶

Le afisi nèle alo digital radon monitor si nèƒle (abe Airthings alo EcoQube monitor ene) nu la, wodzidzea radon le Becquerels per cubic meter (\(Bq/m^3\)) (dukɔwo dome metric SI unit si WHO, UK, EU, Canada, kple Australia zãna: Becquerel 1 sɔ kple radioactive disintegration 1 le sɛkɛnd ɖeka me le ya cubic meter ɖeka me) alo le picocuries le lita ɖeka me (\(pCi/L\)) (wozãnɛ le United States).

Tɔtrɔ ƒe se: \(1 \ nuŋɔŋlɔ{ pCi/L} = 37\nuŋɔŋlɔ{ Bq/m}^3\) (eyata, \(4.0\nuŋɔŋlɔ{ pCi/L} = 148\nuŋɔŋlɔ{ Bq/m}^3\), kple \(200\ŋɔŋlɔ{ Bq/m}^3 = 5.4\nuŋɔŋlɔ{ pCi/L}\)).

Nusitae radon si le xɔ me la dzina ɖe edzi le tsidzadza, sno, kple yame ƒe fafaɣiwo¶

Zi geɖe la, vɔvɔ̃ ɖoa aƒetɔ siwo si digital radon-mɔ̃ siwo nɔa anyi ɖaa le ne woƒe ŋkuléleɖenuŋua ti kpo tso \(70\text{ Bq/m}^3\) (\(1.9\text{ pCi/L}\)) va ɖo \(500\text{ Bq/m}^3\) (\(13.5\text{ pCi/L}\)) le zã ɖeka me le tsidzadza gã aɖe alo dzomeŋɔli ƒe vuvɔŋɔli ƒe ɣeyiɣi aɖe me. Esia dzɔna le dzɔdzɔmeŋutete ƒe susu etɔ̃ ta:

1. "Anyigba ƒe Ta" ƒe ŋusẽkpɔɖeamedzi le tsidzadza gã, sno, alo anyigba si xɔ dzo me: Zi geɖe la, radon gas si le dzi yim to anyigba dzi la sina to gbe si le ʋuʋu ɖi kple anyigba si ƒo xlã wò akpata katã me afɔku aɖeke manɔmee. Ne tsidzadza gã aɖe yɔ anyigba si le etame alo vuvɔŋɔli ƒe vuvɔ na gbea tsikpe la, xɔxɔnu si ƒo xlãe la tsia nu abe nutsyɔnu si me tsi mate ŋu age ɖo o ene. Mɔ ɖeka kolia si me tsikpe mele o, si me tsikpe mele o, si susɔ be anyigba me gas nado la le wò aƒe ƒe xɔgbakpe si me dzo le la te tẽ.
2. Low barometric pressure systems: Ne ahom ƒe ŋgɔgbe aɖe he yame ƒe yaƒoƒo ƒe nyaƒoɖeamenu si le ɖiɖim vɛ la, nyaƒoɖeamenu si lolo wu si xaxa ɖe anyigba ƒe ʋuʋudedi siwo le wò gɔmeɖoanyi te me la ƒoa anyigba ƒe gas yia dzi yia anyigbaxɔdzoa te.
3. Dzoxɔxɔ ƒe ƒuƒoƒo ƒe ŋusẽkpɔɖeamedzi le dzomeŋɔli: Zi alesi dzoxɔxɔ ƒe vovototo si le xɔme ya dzodzoe (\(20^\circ\text{C} / 68^\circ\text{F}\)) kple gota ya si fa miamiamia (\(-10^\circ\text{C} / 14^\circ\text{F}\)) dome loloe, si kpe ɖe fesre siwo wotu kple dzodoƒenu siwo ɖea ya ɖe dzodoƒewo ŋu la, zi nenemae... sesẽ wu numimɔ̃ si hea anyigba me gas to wò anyigbaxɔdzoa ƒe anyigba.

Alesi woaɖe radon dzi akpɔtɔ enumake eye wòanɔ anyi tegbee¶

• Afɔɖeɖe kpata siwo woawɔ hena ɣeyiɣi aɖe esime nèle atike si ana woaɖe kuxia dzi akpɔtɔ la lalam:
• Na ya nado le teƒe si bɔbɔ wu nyuie: Ne èʋu fesre eve siwo le gɔmexɔa ƒe axa siwo tsi tre ɖe wo nɔewo ŋu sentimeta 2 va ɖo 5 (inch 1 va ɖo 2) la, enaa ya si ƒoa xlãe si naa radon tsia radon eye wòɖea nyaƒoɖeamenu manyomanyo ƒe ya si le anyigbaxɔdzoa me la ɖa. (Nuxlɔ̃ame: Mègaʋu dzisasrã evelia ƒe fesrewo ɖeɖeko gbeɖe esime nèle xɔa gɔme tu o; ya si dona le aƒea tame wɔa dɔ abe dzodoƒe ƒe tsilénu ʋuʋu ene, si naa dzodoƒe ƒe ya si yia dzi la dzina ɖe edzi eye wònaa radon geɖe wu nom doa goe le anyigbaxɔdzoa ƒe anyigba.)
• Tso anyigbaxɔdzo ƒe pɔmpi ƒe do si le ʋuʋu ɖi nu: Kɔkrit alo plastik si le anyigba te tsidzɔƒe si le ʋuʋu ɖi le wò anyigba te nye do si le ʋuʋu ɖi si ƒe didime nye sentimeta 45 (inch 18) tẽe ɖe kpe gbadzɛ si le wò kpe gbadzɛa te la me tẽ. Tsɔ polycarbonate radon sump dome si me ya megena ɖo o si me kɔ si wotsɔ silicone caulk xe ɖe kɔnkrit anyigba eye wotsɔ rababa grommets ƒo xlã tsidzɔƒe ƒe pɔmpi kple elektrikkawo ɖɔli tsidzɔƒe ƒe nutsyɔnu ɖesiaɖe si me do le alo esi me mekɔ o.
• Do Dzoxɔxɔ Gbugbɔgaxɔ (HRV) alo Ŋusẽ Gbugbɔgaxɔ Yaƒoƒomɔ̃ (ERV) si li xoxo: Gome ya yeye si da sɔ ƒe asitɔtrɔ ɖe edzi nana xɔme radon dzi ɖena kpɔtɔna alafa memama 25 va ɖo 50.
• Eɖɔɖɔɖo tegbee: Active Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD):
• Ne wotsɔ caulk ɖeɖeko xea gbagbãƒewo la mesɔ gbɔ gbeɖe be woatsɔ ada aƒe si me radon sɔ gbɔ ɖo o elabena kɔnkrit ŋutɔ hã me ʋuʋudedi le vie eye ɖa ƒe gbagbã yeyewo dzɔna ɣesiaɣi.
• Radon dzi ɖeɖe kpɔtɔ si ŋu woɖo kpee (si ŋu NRPP alo NRSB ɖo kpee le U.S., C-NRPP le Canada, alo UK Radon Association le UK) kua do si didi sentimeta 10 va ɖo 13 (inch 4 va ɖo 5) to wò kɔkrit gɔmeɖoanyi gbadzɛa me yia kpe gbadzɛ si le ete la me, doa do ɖe do sue aɖe si wotsɔ noa nu me, eye wòƒua du yia do sue aɖe si wotu nu ɖo me PVC pɔmpi vaseɖe inline radon exhaust fan si wotu ɖe dziƒoxɔa dzi alo aƒea ƒe gota (menye le aƒea me gbeɖe o, eyata pɔmpi ɖesiaɖe si le dodom la nɔa agbalẽkotoku si wowɔ nyuie la godo).
• Esi fesrea le dɔ wɔm atraɖii gaƒoƒo 24 gbesiagbe (ezãa elektrikŋusẽ watt 40 va ɖo 80 ko), eye wòtrɔa nyaƒoɖeamenu ƒe vovototo si le wò gɔmeɖoanyia te, eye wònoa anyigba ƒe gas doa goe le xɔtaxɔa te eye wòɖea ya le wò xɔtaxɔa tame afɔku aɖeke manɔmee hafi wòte ŋu gena ɖe wò aƒeme gbeɖeka, eye zi geɖe la, eɖea xɔme radon dzi kpɔtɔna 85 va ɖo 99 le alafa me le gaƒoƒo 24 va ɖo 48 me.
• Radon-pɔmpi ɖesiaɖe si le dɔ wɔm la ƒe akpa aɖewoe nye U-tube liquid manometer gauge si wotu ɖe ŋku ƒe kɔkɔme le xɔa gɔme. Kpɔ gauge sia ɖa ɣleti sia ɣleti: zi alesi ami si le amadede vovovowo me le "U" tube ƒe axa eveawo me mesɔ o (zi geɖe la, eɖea tsi ƒe sɔti ƒe vovototo si nye sentimeta 1.2 va ɖo 4.5 / inch 0.5 va ɖo 1.75 fiana), fesrea le nu mimi wɔm vevie le wò anyigba te. Ne tsi sɔti eveawo bɔbɔ nɔ anyi gbadzaa eye wole zero gɔ̃ hã la, ekema elektrikŋusẽ megale fesrea ŋu alo do kpo dɔwɔwɔ o.

Nya siwo wobiaa amewo enuenu¶

Wolé ŋku ɖe dzɔtsoƒewo ŋu¶

• United States Nutome Takpɔha (U.S. EPA): Ta Wò Ƒomea Ta Tso Asbestos ƒe Gomekpɔkpɔ Me, Mɔfiame si Ŋu Lead-Safe Certified to Renovate Right (RRP Rule), Dukɔmevi ƒe Mɔfiame si Ku Ðe Radon Ŋu, kple Nuƒlelawo ƒe Mɔfiame Ku Ðe Radon Dzi Ðeɖe Akpɔtɔ Ŋu: Alesi Nàɖɔ Wò Aƒea Ðo.
• Dɔlélewo Dzi Kpɔkpɔ Kple Mɔxexe Ðe Enu Dɔwɔƒe (CDC, United States) kple Aɖinuwo Kple Dɔlélewo Ŋuti Nuŋlɔɖi Dɔwɔƒe (ATSDR): Ðeviwo ƒe Aɖi si Wotsɔ Kplɔa Lãfi: Ʋu me Lãmetsi ƒe Asixɔxɔ (3.5 ug/dL) Dɔdaƒe ƒe Mɔfiame kple Aɖiŋutinunya Ŋuti Nyatakakawo na Asbestos, Lãmetsi, kple Ionizing Kekeli/Radon.
• Xexeame ƒe Lãmesẽ Habɔbɔ (WHO): WHO ƒe Mɔfiamegbalẽ si Ku Ðe Radon le Xɔme Ŋu: Dukɔa ƒe Lãmesẽ Ŋuti Nukpɔsusu (\(100\text{ Bq/m}^3\) xexeame katã ƒe nufiame ƒe seƒe kple atamanono ƒe afɔku ƒe akɔntabubu siwo wowɔ ɖekae) kple WHO ƒe Mɔfiamewo na Dɔdaƒe ƒe Dɔwɔnawo ƒe Dɔwɔnawo le Lifi ƒe Dɔléle Ŋu.
• Lãmesẽ Canada (Canada): Mɔfiame na Radon Dzidzedze le Aƒemenɔƒewo (\(200\text{ Bq/m}^3\) action guideline), Asbestos ƒe Lãmesẽ Afɔkuwo, kple Ðe Wò Lead ƒe Afɔku Dzi Ðeɖe Akpɔtɔ.
• Lãmesẽ kple Dedienɔnɔ Dɔwɔƒe (HSE, United Kingdom) kple UK Lãmesẽ Dedienɔnɔ Dɔwɔƒe (UKHSA): Asbestos Vevienuwo: Dɔwɔwɔ ƒe Mɔfiamegbalẽ na Xɔtutu, Beléle Na Kple Asitsatsa Siwo Do Ƒome Kplii le Asbestos Dɔwɔwɔ Siwo Mexɔ Mɔɖegbalẽ O Ŋu kple UKradon Action Level (\(200\text{ Bq/m}^3\)) Mɔ̃ɖaŋu Mɔfiame.
• Australia Dziɖuɖua ƒe Asbestos Dedienɔnɔ Kple Eɖeɖeɖa Dɔwɔƒe (ASEA, Australia): Asbestos Dedienɔnɔ na Aƒetɔwo kple Gbugbɔgaɖɔɖowɔlawo kple tsidzadza ƒe ɖoɖo siwo le dedie.

Mɔfiame siwo do ƒome kplii¶

• Xɔtuɖaŋu ƒe gbegblẽ kple eƒe mumu
• Aŋɔ le tsi ƒe gbegblẽ megbe
• Atike siwo kɔ ɖe anyigba
• Aƒe siwo me ame mate ŋu anɔ o kple dɔwɔna veviwo