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What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from deposits of
uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when
trapped in buildings, can be harmful, especially at elevated levels. Radon is a radioactive
decay product of radium, which is itself a decay product of uranium. Uranium and radium
are both common elements in soil.
Where is Radon Found?
The primary source of high levels of radon in homes is the surrounding soil. Radon has
been found in elevated levels in homes in every state, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that as many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. have
elevated radon levels.
How Does Radon Get Into My House?
Warm air rises. When this happens in your home, it creates a vacuum in the lower areas
of the house. Nature hates a vacuum, so something must rush in to fill it. In the case of
your home, air seeps in from the soil around and under the house, and some air is
sucked in through openings (cracks, doors, windows) on the lower levels. Radon gas
enters the same way air and other soil gases enter the home; through cracks in the
foundation floor or walls, hollow-block walls, and openings around floor drains, pipes and
sump pumps.
What are the Health Effects of Radon?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon can be
inhaled into the lungs, where it undergoes radioactive decay. As it decays, radon
releases tiny bursts of energy called alpha particles, which can harm sensitive lung tissue
by damaging the DNA. This damaged DNA can lead to lung cancer.
How is Radon Measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity.
The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that
homes with radon levels 4 pCi/L, or greater, be fixed.
How do I Find Out if My House has Elevated Levels of Radon?
Radon test kits that meet EPA guidelines can be obtained from a radon testing company
or laboratory. Most home inspectors also test for radon as part of their business, or you
can contact BGS Radon Mitigations.
How Can I Fix My House if it has Elevated Levels of Radon?
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes. Sealing cracks and other
openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction. EPA
does not recommend the use of sealing and caulking alone to reduce radon because, by
itself, sealing has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. In
most cases, systems with pipes and fans are used to reduce radon. Such systems are
called sub-slab depressurization. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the
home from below the concrete floor and the foundation. Similar systems can also be
installed in homes with crawl spaces. Radon reduction contractors may use other
methods that may also work in your home, depending on its design and other factors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON RADON MYTHS
"I don't have a basement, so I probably don't have a radon problem."
Radon can seep in from soil anywhere around or under a home, regardless of whether
your home has a basement, a crawl space, or is built slab-on-grade. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing for
all types of homes. In multi-level homes testing should be done on a level below the third
floor.
"I don't live in an area designated as a high radon zone, so my home won't have
a problem."
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geologic Survey conducted surveys of radon potential across
the United States. They broke the country down into three zones according to their
potential for high indoor radon levels, with Zone 1 having the highest radon potential. It is
true that homes in Zones 1 and 2 have a statistically higher chance of having elevated
levels of radon. However, the fact is that elevated levels of radon have been found in
homes in all fifty states. The radon level in your home depends on the geology under and
near your home. The only way to know for sure, and to protect your family from radon, is
to test your home.
"Two of my neighbors have tested their homes for radon and they don't have
high levels, so I probably don't either."
Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same street. It is
nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of geologic soil deposits and the extent to
which radon gas will seep into and be retained by a specific house. The only way to know
whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your family from
radon, is to test.
"There doesn't seem to be much proof that radon is a serious health problem."
The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before have we had
such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes
lung cancer in humans. In February of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
presented the findings of their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report:
"The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by the NAS is the most
definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public
health problem. The study fully supports U.S. EPA estimates stating that radon causes
between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
"I don't have time to test for radon!"
Testing is as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in your home in a
designated area, and, after the prescribed number of days, sealing the detector back in
the package and mailing it to a lab. The whole process only takes a few minutes of your
time!
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from deposits of
uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when
trapped in buildings, can be harmful, especially at elevated levels. Radon is a radioactive
decay product of radium, which is itself a decay product of uranium. Uranium and radium
are both common elements in soil.
Where is Radon Found?
The primary source of high levels of radon in homes is the surrounding soil. Radon has
been found in elevated levels in homes in every state, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that as many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. have
elevated radon levels.
How Does Radon Get Into My House?
Warm air rises. When this happens in your home, it creates a vacuum in the lower areas
of the house. Nature hates a vacuum, so something must rush in to fill it. In the case of
your home, air seeps in from the soil around and under the house, and some air is
sucked in through openings (cracks, doors, windows) on the lower levels. Radon gas
enters the same way air and other soil gases enter the home; through cracks in the
foundation floor or walls, hollow-block walls, and openings around floor drains, pipes and
sump pumps.
What are the Health Effects of Radon?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon can be
inhaled into the lungs, where it undergoes radioactive decay. As it decays, radon
releases tiny bursts of energy called alpha particles, which can harm sensitive lung tissue
by damaging the DNA. This damaged DNA can lead to lung cancer.
How is Radon Measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity.
The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that
homes with radon levels 4 pCi/L, or greater, be fixed.
How do I Find Out if My House has Elevated Levels of Radon?
Radon test kits that meet EPA guidelines can be obtained from a radon testing company
or laboratory. Most home inspectors also test for radon as part of their business, or you
can contact BGS Radon Mitigations.
How Can I Fix My House if it has Elevated Levels of Radon?
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes. Sealing cracks and other
openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction. EPA
does not recommend the use of sealing and caulking alone to reduce radon because, by
itself, sealing has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. In
most cases, systems with pipes and fans are used to reduce radon. Such systems are
called sub-slab depressurization. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the
home from below the concrete floor and the foundation. Similar systems can also be
installed in homes with crawl spaces. Radon reduction contractors may use other
methods that may also work in your home, depending on its design and other factors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON RADON MYTHS
"I don't have a basement, so I probably don't have a radon problem."
Radon can seep in from soil anywhere around or under a home, regardless of whether
your home has a basement, a crawl space, or is built slab-on-grade. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing for
all types of homes. In multi-level homes testing should be done on a level below the third
floor.
"I don't live in an area designated as a high radon zone, so my home won't have
a problem."
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geologic Survey conducted surveys of radon potential across
the United States. They broke the country down into three zones according to their
potential for high indoor radon levels, with Zone 1 having the highest radon potential. It is
true that homes in Zones 1 and 2 have a statistically higher chance of having elevated
levels of radon. However, the fact is that elevated levels of radon have been found in
homes in all fifty states. The radon level in your home depends on the geology under and
near your home. The only way to know for sure, and to protect your family from radon, is
to test your home.
"Two of my neighbors have tested their homes for radon and they don't have
high levels, so I probably don't either."
Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same street. It is
nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of geologic soil deposits and the extent to
which radon gas will seep into and be retained by a specific house. The only way to know
whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your family from
radon, is to test.
"There doesn't seem to be much proof that radon is a serious health problem."
The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before have we had
such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes
lung cancer in humans. In February of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
presented the findings of their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report:
"The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by the NAS is the most
definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public
health problem. The study fully supports U.S. EPA estimates stating that radon causes
between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
"I don't have time to test for radon!"
Testing is as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in your home in a
designated area, and, after the prescribed number of days, sealing the detector back in
the package and mailing it to a lab. The whole process only takes a few minutes of your
time!