Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Radon can be harmful to your health because it may accumulate in your home by entering through cracks in the basement and foundation. Long-term exposure to radon can be harmful to the health of your family. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Reducing the level of radon in your home is relatively inexpensive.
Radon occurs naturally in the environment. Radon is the product of "the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water" and becomes a problem when it "gets into the air you breathe" 1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that indoor radon will remain an important public health problem. It is estimated that the average indoor radon level to be about 1.3 pCi/L. Below 0.4 pCi/L is considered to be the normal level or radon found in the outside air. Using current technology, the radon level in most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below1.
Levels of radon in indoor air vary widely. The EPA has calculated the potential for high levels of radon on a county-by-county basis, as illustrated in Figure 1. The radon potential calculations were based on the following factors1:
Indoor radon measurements
Chronic exposure to radon has been linked to lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers. The EPA has estimated that of the 146,400 lung cancer deaths that occurred in 1995, 21,100 (14.4%) were due to radon exposure3.
The most notable subpopulation that is at greater risk from radon exposure is current smokers. At the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, cigarette smokers have a 6.2% lifetime chance of lung cancer death compared to 2.3% for the general population and .7% for people who have never smoked3.
Radon testing has become common during home sales. The EPA has published a radon guide for use during home transactions (www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html). There are two methods of testing available to homeowners; short-term and long-term testing:
The EPA has published a guide on radon reduction, which can be found at www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/consguid.pdf. There are many contractors who are qualified by state offices and private agencies, including the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) and the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP), who can install radon reduction measures in your home. You are recommended to hire a qualified radon professional because of the technical knowledge required to adequately address the issue. Additionally, any renovation of your basement should include radon testing, and reduction if necessary.
The most common radon reduction method is called a soil suction radon reduction system. This method is essentially a basement or crawl-space ventilation system that moves the radon from beneath your house to the outside air, so that it does not accumulate in your home. The sealing of foundation cracks also helps with this problem5.
The cost of reducing a radon problem depends on your home and the extent of the radon problem. The EPA has estimated the cost of fixing a radon problem as $1,200, although this cost varies5. Finally the EPA recommends that you test your home after a reduction system has been installed to verify that it is working.
For more information on Radon and other indoor air pollutants, contact: