Recently, I completed a radon measurement certification program. My husband is a certified radon measurement specialist and a radon mitigation specialist. Since I have also spent the last 13 years in the real estate world, I can say with much honesty, that radon is regarded as a pesky issue that most realtors and homeowners would rather not have deal with.
Radon detector canada that comes from the ground, usually through uranium in the soil, rocks or water and it makes its way to the air we breathe. Unfortunately, we are not able to smell, see or taste radon. When we breathe air containing radon, we increase our chances of getting lung cancer. Actually, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, which amounts to 21,000 deaths per year.
Radon makes its way into our homes through cracks or openings in the foundation or through well water and then it gets trapped inside our homes. Statistics say that one out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon. It doesn't matter if the home is old or new, with or without a basement, or how well the house has been sealed, if there is radon in the ground under the home, than the home will have radon. Some states, like Iowa for example, have very high levels of radon. Unfortunately, radon cannot be predicted in states or neighborhoods. Just because the neighbor had high levels of radon doesn't mean that the house next door will have high levels also.
The only way to know if the house has radon, is to have the house tested. There are certified radon measurement specialists that will do testing using a continuous radon monitor or some of the Public Health Agencies have do-it-yourself radon kits that can be purchased. The radon monitors or kits are usually placed in the lowest livable area of the home, such as a basement, away from drafts, in a closed house (windows and doors) to get an accurate reading.
The EPA recommends that the house be fixed if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter or more. If the radon levels are less than 4 picocuries per liter, the radon can still be harmful and it is recommended to get the levels down as far as possible.
I have recently been asked about radon testing in daycare centers. After some investigation and a call to the EPA, I have learned, to the best of my knowledge, within one year of being licensed or renewed for a license, a daycare center that operates on the ground level or use basement areas for classrooms, must test for radon and must test every two years thereafter. If testing confirms levels in excess of 4.0pcils, a plan using radon mitigation procedures established by the Department of Public Health must be in place before a license can be issued or renewed.
Legislators are also working on getting bills passed for having radon testing in schools that operate on the ground level or use basement areas for classrooms. Children are more sensitive to the harmful effects of radon because of their size and they tend to breathe faster than most adults, taking in more air and radon.
Radon Awareness and Action Still Needs to Improve
Despite the fact that radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer after smoking, causing over 21,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the U.S., not enough people are aware of radon's lethal potential. Even among those homeowners who know about radon, the number of houses that are tested for radon remains surprisingly low.
The need for greater radon awareness and action was reinforced by a recent study completed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Their survey revealed that 73% of Colorado's residents are aware of radon. But only 34% percent of survey respondents have had their homes tested for radon gas. One obvious reason for this disconnect between awareness and action is the fact that radon gas is invisible and odorless. The only way to detect the presence of radon and determine if exposure levels are hazardous is to have the house or building tested.
Other statistics from the survey showed that radon knowledge tended to increase with age, education level and income. People 18-29 years old were least likely to know about radon; those in the 30-49 year-old group weren't as knowledgeable as those aged 50-69 years.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally -a byproduct of the ongoing decay of uranium in the soil and in rocks. Radon can be found all over the planet, but it is more prevalent in some areas than in others. While radon gas disperses harmlessly into the open air, it can accumulate in dangerous concentrations inside buildings. The potential for radon accumulation exists whether the house has a slab, crawl space or basement foundation. Radon gas passes easily through cracks in concrete and through numerous gaps, cracks and openings in building materials. Consequently, it can get to just about any part of a house.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state environmental and health organizations are hoping to increase radon awareness and radon mitigation to reduce radon exposure and consequent health issues. To avoid the risk of potentially lethal radon exposure, every house should be tested for radon -a procedure that can be done inexpensively by homeowners (using kits that are available at hardware stores, home centers and online) or by radon mitigation contractors.
Taking Action
If a radon test reveals radon exposure levels at or above 4 picocuries per liter of interior air are detected, a mitigation system should be installed. The technology and business of radon mitigation has been evolving for over 30 years. Today it's not difficult to find a licensed radon mitigation contractor serving your community. Even with high concentrations of radon gas are detected, an experienced contractor will be able to guarantee that a state-of-the-art abatement system will reduce radon exposure to acceptable levels.
A typical radon abatement system consists of large-diameter plastic pipe that extends into the soil at one or more locations beneath the house. If the foundation has a concrete floor, holes are made to reach the soil. When there's a dirt-floored crawl space, it's usually necessary to seal the crawl space floor with a thick layer of plastic. The pipe runs outside the house, and has in in-line fan installed to pull radon-rich air from the soil and blow it outside.
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