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Radon Information
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 can threaten human health when it accumulates in buildings. Radon is a radioactive decay product of radium, which in turn is a decay product of uranium. Uranium and radium are naturally occurring common elements in soil.
What are the Health Effects of Radon?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the country each year. 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.
Where is Radon Found?
The primary source of high levels of radon in homes is the surrounding soil. Hot spots include basements, first-floor rooms, and garages. Radon has been found in elevated levels in homes in every state, and EPA estimates that as many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. have elevated radon levels. No area of the country is free from risk.
How Does Radon Get Into My House?
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. The process begins when warm air in the home 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.
How is Radon Measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity. The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that homes with radon levels 4 pCi/L, or greater, be fixed.
What Does it Cost to Lower Radon Levels?
The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how your home was built and other factors. 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 lower radon levels in a home is about $1,200.
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, EPA strongly recommends installing pipes and fans to reduce radon. Radon reduction contractors may use other methods that may also work in your home, depending on its design and other factors. Look in your local phone book or call your state radon office to locate radon mitigators in your area.
Dispelling Some 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 EPA 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 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 soil gases 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."
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 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 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 (typically two 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 listed as a Class A carcinogen
Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims more than 20,000 lives annually (more than drunk driving and more than 2nd hand smoke, drowning, fires, and airline crashes combined). EPA has launched a new series of television, radio and print public service announcements encouraging people to test and fix their homes for radon. This is a good time to focus on testing and on fixing homes with a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more. Heed the Surgeon General's warning. Take action now to reduce your family's risk of lung cancer from radon!
The World Health Organization (WHO) says radon causes up to 15% of lung cancers worldwide. In an effort to reduce the rate of lung cancer around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international radon project to help countries increase awareness, collect data and encourage action to reduce radon-related risks. The U.S. EPA is one of several government agencies and countries supporting this initiative and is encouraged by WHO’s attention to this important public health issue. "Radon poses an easily reducible health risk to populations all over the world, but has not up to now received widespread attention," said Dr. Michael Repacholi, coordinator of WHO’s Radiation and Environmental Health Unit. He went on to say that "radon in our homes is the main source of exposure to ionizing radiation, and accounts for 50% of the public’s exposure to naturally-occurring sources of radiation in many countries.
Testing before you close can help you to negotiate the cost of remediation.
The following links will provide you with unbiased data concerning radon.
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ASSETS/E6DEDAC1CE714968B5CCB0721381857B/radestat.pdf
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR THE EPAs DOCUMENTATION
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