Understanding, Testing and Reducing Radon

By Darcy Logan

Imagine something that is colorless, odorless, and so deadly it causes approximately 21,000 deaths each year. It is found almost everywhere in varying amounts. In addition, it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in smokers.

You probably did not guess radon. Yet, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one in fifteen homes has an unsafe level of radon. Testing and reducing radon is very simple and easy to do but is rarely done. Here are some basic facts about radon that you need to know to protect yourself and your family.

What Is Radon?

Radon is an invisible gas that is produced by naturally by decaying uranium in the soil. Areas with a lot of granite, schist, limestone, shale, phosphate, and pitchblende will usually have a higher amount of radon. However, it can be found in high amounts in every state in the country.

What Health Risks Are Associated with Radon?

The only known health effect associated with radon is lung cancer. Lung cancer usually develops after five to twenty-five years of exposure, depending on the levels of radon in the home. Smokers have a higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer than nonsmokers, while children have about the same chance of developing lung cancer as adults.

If It Occurs Naturally, Then Why Do I Need to Test?

Although radon occurs naturally, it builds up inside of buildings. A 1991 national residential radon survey showed that the average indoor radon levels was about 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in the United States, but the average outdoor level was only about 0.4 pCi/L. Anything over 2.0 pCi/L is considered unsafe; levels of 4.0 pCi/L or more are considered hazardous. Living in a home with a pCi/L level of 4.0 triples your risk of developing lung cancer even if you have never smoked.

Radon is capable of entering the house through small openings such as cracks in concrete walls and floors, gaps in suspended floors, sumps, floor drains, utility pipes, or wires that penetrate a foundation wall. Because the air pressure inside your home is lower than pressure in the soil, your home acts like a vacuum and can pull radon in through the smallest openings. Once inside, the radon has nowhere to go and builds up. Higher levels of radon in your home increase the possibility that you or a family member will develop cancer. Radon levels are usually highest in basements and crawl spaces because they are closest to the source and usually poorly ventilated.

My House Is New, so How Can I Have a Radon Problem?

Any home or building can have a radon problem: old, new, well sealed, drafty, with basements, without basements. Even if your neighbors have tested their homes and do not have a problem, it does not guarantee that your home is safe. Radon is not always spread out over a neighborhood; sometimes it can be found in pockets. In one case, a home had sixteen times the amount of radon allowed for uranium miners, yet none of the surrounding homes had a problem.

How Do I Find out if My Home Has Radon?

Do-it-yourself radon test kits can be purchased online, in hardware stores, and other retail outlets. Make sure any test kit has the words "meets EPA requirements" written on it. The most common type of test consists of a charcoal canister that is placed out in the open for about a week before it is sent to a testing agency. Two other types of radon tests are alpha track detectors and electret-ion detectors. They usually have longer test periods--anywhere from 90 days to a year. Short-term tests will give you quicker results, but may not accurately measure what is going on in the home. You should consider doing both types of tests.

Test canisters should be placed in the lowest level of your home. Do not place it in rooms that are high in moisture or drafts such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and hallways. Humidity and drafts can affect the results. It is recommended that two tests kits be used at the same time to insure accuracy.

An alternative to do-it-yourself testing would be to hire a company that specializes in testing for radon. However, it is essential that you check out any contractor with the Better Business Bureau and the EPA first. Many unscrupulous people have made money falsely testing and protecting homes for radon. Make sure that the contactor has been trained and evaluated by the EPA's voluntary National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP). Any contractor who has met the EPA's requirements will be able to show you an EPA-generated RPP identification card.

Is This Just a Way to Get Me to Waste My Money on a Testing Kit?

Radon is a big enough problem that the EPA has set up radon offices in every state. You can find your local office by going to their website [http://www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html]. Radon is also enough of a risk for the Surgeon General to issue this health advisory in January 2005:

Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It's important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.

What Do I Do If I Radon Is in My Home?

Reducing radon can be as simple as opening a window. Increasing ventilation inside your house will keep radon from building up to dangerous levels. Keeping it from entering your home is not that difficult either, but it can take a little work. First, check for gaps and cracks in your basement or crawlspace and any lower parts of your first floor siding or masonry. Seal them with latex or silicone caulk or with foam sealant. Waterproof your basement and paint any cement walls with waterproofing basement paint. If you have a sump pump, make sure it has a tight-fitting lid.

If your home's radon level is four pCi/L or higher, you should consider hiring a contractor to help ensure that you effectively reduce your radon levels. Some radon reductions systems will reduce radon levels in your home by ninety-nine percent. The average cost of fixing a home with these systems generally ranges from $800 to $2,500. Again, make sure that the contractor has met the EPA's requirements and can show you an RPP identification card. Your local EPA office will be able to refer you to contractors who have met their standards.

Sometimes, what you don't know can hurt you. Radon is one of these times. However, it does not have to be that way if you take the proper steps to test and reduce radon levels in your home. The risks of developing lung cancer will decrease as soon as you reduce the levels of radon in your home, just as it does for people who stop smoking. The sooner you act, the better off you will be.

© Doityourself.com 2006