What
Is Radon?
Radon is radioactive gas, element number 86 on the periodic chart of elements. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it.
Radon comes from the breakdown, (radioactive decay) of radium, a natural element found in our soil. As radium, (element number 86) decays it produces radon gas which in turn decays into many other radioactive elements. Each time this multi step decay process takes place, radioactive alpha particles are emitted. It is these alpha emitters that are responsible for the damage to our health.
Why
Does Radon Enter Our Homes?
When radon is present in the soil that surrounds our homes it can be drawn into the basement by the negative pressure found in the lower levels of all structures. This drawing effect pulls radon into the home and is then generally distributed throughout the house by the heating and cooling system.
How
Does Radon Get In?
Radon enters easily because it is so small. As an example, the reason helium balloons get smaller after you buy them is because helium molecules are smaller than the molecules that make up the wall of the balloon. The helium passes right through. Radon is exactly the same size as helium and can easily pass through cracks, openings and most of the porous materials used to construct the foundations and floors of our homes.
What
Are The Health Effects Of Radon?
Radon is second only to cigarette smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer death. Both are preventable. Radon kills an estimated 21,000 people every year in the U.S. with the most susceptible being children, (because their lungs are still developing) smokers, (because of the doubling impact) and those that stay inside the most.
How
Does Radon Cause Lung Cancer?
As you breathe, radon enters the lungs and continues its decay process. Each time a decay reaction occurs, the lungs' cells receive a small burst of radiation which, can damage the lung tissue or can cause the cells to mutate and develop into lung cancer.
What
Levels Are Safe?
No amount of radon is completely safe but the lower your level, the safer you are. Radon is measured in picocurries per liter of air (pCi/L). The USEPA recommends that you should seriously consider fixing your home if test results are between 2 to 4 pCi/L. If your home is above 4 pCi/L, definitely fix it. USEPA recommendations are that we strive for levels more typical of outside air (0.2 to 0.8 pCi/L) and many feel that the action guideline (4 pCi/L), is not low enough since the relative risk at that level is approximately the same as 200 chest x-rays per year.
Do
Many Homes Have A Radon Problem?
Yes. According to recent government surveys, some states have as high as a 70% failure rate, while other states are as low as 5%. The problem is that regardless of which state that you live in, you will never know what your radon level is unless you test.
Should
I Test My Home For Radon?
Yes. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that every home be tested and when moving, consider a radon test as part of the home inspection process before you buy.
How
Do I Test My Home For Radon?
If you've never tested for Radon before, start with a short term test kit. These kits are left open in your home for 2 - 4 days then returned to our lab for analysis. Short Term kits contain activated charcoal which absorbs radon and provides extremely accurate results. Test in the lowest level of your home. typically the basement. Long Term kits are left open from 3 to 12 months and are usually used for follow up testing to estimate annual exposures or for monitoring workers exposure. Place long term kits in whichever room of the home your family spends the majority of their time.
If
There Is A Problem, How Do I Fix It?
Since there is no known safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. But the risk can be reduced by lowering the radon level in your home.
A variety of methods are used to reduce radon in your home. In some cases, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. In other cases, simple systems using pipes and fans may be used to reduce radon. Such systems are called "sub-slab depressurization," and do not require major changes to your home. These systems remove radon gas from below the concrete floor and the foundation before it can enter the home. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. Radon contractors use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.
The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs like painting or having a new hot water heater installed. The average house costs about $1,200 for a contractor to fix, although this can range from about $500 to about $2,500.
Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. The EPA Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program tests these contractors. EPA provides a list of RCP contractors to state radon offices. A contractor who has passed the EPA test will carry a special RCP identification card. A trained RCP contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help you pick the right treatment method.
