Radon
(En español)


 Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. And the second leading cause of lung cancer.

  • Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released in rock, soil, and water from the natural decay of uranium. While levels in outdoor air pose a relatively low threat to human health, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings. You can’t see, smell, or taste it, but an elevated radon level in your home may be affecting the health of your family.
     
  • Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the number one cause  among non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes more than 20,000  lung cancer deaths in the country each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has radon, your risk of lung cancer can be higher.

Radon is found all over the United States

  • Radon has been found in elevated levels in homes in every state. No area of the country is free from risk.  Indeed, two homes right next to each other can have vastly different radon levels. Just because your  neighbor’s house does not have an elevated level of radon does not mean that your house will have a low  radon level. The only way to know if your home is under the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L is to test.

    High levels of radon in homes usually come from the surrounding soil. Radon gas enters through cracks  and openings—such as doors, windows, and plumbing features—on the lower levels of your home. Hot  spots include basements, first-floor rooms, and garages, but radon can be found anywhere in your house.

You Should Test for Radon

  • The U.S. Surgeon General recommends that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. Testing your house  for radon is easy to do. If your house has a radon problem, you can take steps to fix it to protect yourself  and your family.
     
  • You can find out if your home has an elevated radon level by conducting a simple test. It’s as easy as opening a package, placing a radon detector in a designated area, and, after a set number of days, sending the detector back to a lab for analysis. The lab will then inform you of your radon test results.

    See below for how radon enters the home:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Radon test kits are available at your local home improvement or hardware store, or in some cases from your state radon office. You can also order them from the National Safety Council (NSC) or radon testing companies. Another option is to hire a qualified tester to do a radon test for you. Contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. Information about testing your home for radon and finding a test kit is also available by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON.
     
  • Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity. EPA and the Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention recommend that homes with radon levels at 4 pCi/L or higher should be fixed. EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their homes for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L in the United States. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.
     
  • In September 2009, the World Health Organization lowered the EPA's recommendation of 4.0 pCi/L to 2.7 pCi/L of indoor radon levels that should be fixed. The World Health Organization states that as many as 14% of the lung cancer cases in many countries (including the United States) are caused by exposure to radon gas. The World Health Organization has released their Handbook on Indoor Radon which strongly validates the worldwide threat of exposure to radon gas. According to handbook, WHO has been studying the effects of radon exposure since 1979. Although radon was classified as a human carcinogen in 1988, it took over 20-years of sound research and real-life studies from all over the world to confirm the true magnitude of the risk radon poses. Based on the results of these studies, WHO now suggests that homeowners take action when radon levels exceed 2.7 pCi/l.

You can fix a radon problem

  • The cost of making repairs to reduce the radon level depends on several factors, including how your home  was built. 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 cost for a contractor to mitigate radon levels in a home  is about $1,200, although costs can range from $800 to approximately $2,500. Look in your local phone book  or call your state radon office to locate radon mitigators in your area if you find an elevated radon level in your home.

New homes can be built with radon-resistant features

  • Radon-resistant construction methods can be effective in reducing radon entry. When used properly, these simple and cost-effective techniques can help reduce the accumulation of radon gas in homes. Every new home should be tested after occupancy, even if it was built using radon-resistant construction methods. If radon levels above EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L are are detected, it is easier and less expensive to reduce radon levels in homes that have been built with radon-resistant construction techniques.

Radon presents a serious health risk, but it can be controlled easily and cost-effectively. Take action today.  Encourage your friends and family members to do the same!

The information above was taken from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.