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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. Elevated levels of radon have been found in homes in every
state. Radon concentrations can vary greatly from one location to
another, even between neighboring homes, because of localized soil
composition, construction materials, ventilation and other contributing
environmental factors. Any home can have a radon problem,
regardless of whether it is old or new,
drafty or insulated, or with or without a basement.
How Does Radon Get into My Home?
Radon gas enters the same way air and other soil gases enter a home: through cracks in the foundation floor or walls, hollow-brick walls, and openings around floor drains, pipes and sump pumps.
Health Effects of Radon
Radon in the air can be inhaled into the
lungs, where it begins to undergo radioactive decay.
As
this happens, it releases small bursts of energy called alpha
particles, which can harm sensitive lung tissue by damaging its DNA.
This damaged DNA can lead to lung cancer. The Surgeon General has
warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the
United States. Only smoking causes more cases of lung cancer. If you
smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is
especially high.
Testing Your Home for Radon
All homes should be tested for radon and high radon
levels reduced. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Therefore, the EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing for radon
in all homes. Testing is the only way to know whether or not your home
has a radon problem.
Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon
depend mostly on:
- How much radon is in your home
- The amount of time you spend in your home
- Whether your are a smoker or have ever smoked
"Acceptable" Level of Radon in the Air
EPA states that any radon exposure carries some
risk; no level of radon exposure is always safe. However, EPA
recommends homes be fixed if an occupant’s long-term exposure will
average 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
How often is indoor radon a problem?
Nearly one out of every 15 homes has a radon level
EPA considers to be elevated - 4 pCi/L or greater. The U.S. average
radon-in-air level in single family homes is 1.3 pCi/L. Because most
people spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors, indoor
exposure to radon is an important concern.
Testing
Anyone can use a "do-it-yourself" test kit to check
their building.
There are short-term and long-term test kits
available. Short-term test kits should remain in the building from two
to 90 days, depending on the device. Weather conditions and opening and
closing of windows will affect radon levels within a building;
therefore, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to
tell you a year-round average radon level.
The EPA recommends that for homes, initial measurements be short-term tests placed in the lowest lived-in level. Short-term testing in closed building conditions helps residents quickly learn if a home has high levels of radon.
Fixing Your Home if it has Elevated Levels of Radon
Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction. However, by itself, sealing has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. In most cases, venting systems with pipes and fans – called "sub-slab depressurization – are used to more effectively reduce radon. Other methods may also be used, depending on your home’s design and specific situation.
Choosing a Radon Reduction Contractor and Costs Involved
Clay County Public Health can provide a list of radon mitigators near Clay County. Most homes can be fixed for roughly the same cost as other common home repairs – such as having the house painted or a new hot water heater installed. The average cost is about $1,200, but actual cost can range from $500 to $2,500, depending on your home’s construction and the strength of the radon source.
Safeguarding Against Radon when Building a New Home
Simple and inexpensive techniques can reduce radon levels on average by 50 percent. The same techniques often also decrease the potential for basement moisture problems. The cost to incorporate radon-resistant features in new construction typically is in the $350-500 range and can be as low as $100 since they are consistent with standard building practices to control moisture and increase energy efficiency.
Purchasing a Radon Test Kit
Radon test kits are available at many retail stores, and from public health organizations, including the American Lung Association and Clay County Public Health. There are two types of tests offered by Clay County Public Health. Both tests are accurate and will give you the information you need to determine the level of radon in your home. Clay County charges $7.00 for short-term test kits and $15.00 for long-term test kits.
The first type of test offered by our Department is a charcoal canister (short-term radon test). This test uses activated carbon to which radon decay products attach. The charcoal is analyzed at the laboratory to determine a radon level. The short-term test will give the user a "snapshot" of the home's radon level.
The second type of test is an alpha-track detector. The alpha-track detector is a long-term test (3 - 12 months). It consists of a plastic film enclosed in a container with a filtered, covered opening through which radon particles enter and leave marks that can be counted under a microscope by a laboratory. The long-term test gives the user a seasonal average level of radon.
More Information About Radon
For more information about radon or other indoor air pollutants, contact the following:
There is no such thing as radon.
Scientists aren’t sure radon is really a problem.
Low level exposure to radon is harmless.
Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
Radon test kits are not reliable and are difficult to find.
Only houses (single-family dwellings) need to be tested for radon.
Some or all homes with radon problems can’t be fixed.
Radon only affects certain types of homes.
Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
Radon is not a problem in Minnesota.
I have lived in my home for so long it doesn't make sense to test now.
It is difficult to sell a home when radon problems have been discovered.
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Last updated
March 11, 2010.