Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
Do I really need to worry about radon?
You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.
Is radon a common problem?
Radon is a common problem with serious potential side effects, and that’s why it’s a good idea for everyone to consider home testing for radon so any potential issues can be resolved.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. … Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place.Should I worry about radon in my home?
As the National Cancer Institute notes, “Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer.” It is long term exposure that matters, so it’s never really too late to check your home for radon. At the very least, you might find out you do have high radon levels, allowing you to take action to protect your home.
Should I walk away from a house with radon?
Consumer Reports says you don’t have to. Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home.
Does every house have radon?
The simple answer is “yes” – at least trace levels of radon will exist in every home. … That will mean an old home, new home, drafty home, well insulated home and homes with and without basements. If any part of your foundation is in direct contact with the soil, it has the potential of having elevated levels.
How do you eliminate radon?
Active subslab suction — also called subslab depressurization — is the most common and usually the most reliable radon reduction method. One or more suction pipes are inserted through the floor slab into the crushed rock or soil underneath. They also may be inserted below the concrete slab from outside the home.Does radon stay in basement?
The unfortunate answer to your question is NO, radon gas does not stay put in the basement. If you have a radon problem, there is a problem throughout your entire home, including your most lived in areas like the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen.
Where should you place a radon detector?Place a radon detector in the breathing zone, 2-6 feet above the floor, and away from drafts, exterior walls, sumps, drains, windows or doors. Radon may enter a building through cracks in the foundation or through sumps or drains and will usually be higher near these entry points.
Article first time published onHow does radon get into homes?
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.
What if my house has radon?
- Seal and caulk foundation cracks and openings to help reduce the amount of radon that can enter.
- Install a soil suction radon reduction system, also known as vent pipe and fan system. …
- Create a gas-permeable layer beneath the slab or flooring. …
- Install plastic sheeting.
What houses are more likely to have radon?
No particular style of home is more likely to have a radon problem; including old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, or homes without basements.
What state has the highest radon?
- Alaska (10.7)
- South Dakota (9.6)
- Pennsylvania (8.6)
- Ohio (7.8)
- Washington (7.5)
- Kentucky (7.4)
- Montana (7.4)
- Idaho (7.3)
Does radon penetrate concrete?
Radon, soil gasses, and water vapor will easily pass through any openings, cracks, gaps, drains, or thin concrete (rat slabs) in the basement.
Will radon go away?
In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively, or actively, with the use of a fan. Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home’s suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the home.
Can you reduce radon by opening windows?
As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Radon levels are above recommended EPA levels. Radon levels must be reduced even if you are not finishing your basement. … Because it comes from the ground, radon levels are usually highest in basements.
Can radon get upstairs?
Radon is known to be a heavy gas. … Please understand that the radon level can be significantly higher on an upper floor. Even if the radon level is lower on the first floor than say a basement radon level, it could be higher on the second floor. The only way to know is if you test.
Does air purifier help with radon?
Yes, air purifiers help with radon gas reduction to some extent. The air purifiers with activated carbon filter technology are highly effective in trapping radon gas.
How accurate are radon detectors?
The National Radon Safety Board evaluates radon measurement devices in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency. It requires that the individual relative error of each device be less than or equal to 20.0% and that the precision error of all devices be less than or equal to 20.0%.
What should you not do during a radon test?
Turn off all air moving devices during the test. This would include ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, regular fans, HEPA or any other kind of filtering device that moves air. Do not operate fireplaces or heating stoves during the test unless they are your main source of heat.
Are electronic radon testers accurate?
Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time. … A new study finds the only reliable way to measure exposure to radon gas is with a long-term testing kit, 90 or more days. Researchers placed two test kits, a short term (five-day) and long term (90-day) in the same homes.
Where is radon coming from?
Radon is constantly being generated by the radium in rocks, soil, water and materials derived from rocks and soils, such as certain building materials. Radium is a decay product of uranium which is naturally occurring in the soils and rocks of the earth’s crust.
How often should you test for radon?
It’s easy to test for radon with our home kits, but it’s not enough to test once. If you’re wondering how often you should test for radon, here are the facts. To provide peace of mind, 2the EPA recommends testing your home after any lifestyle changes, renovations and every two years as part of routine home maintenance.
How can you protect your home from radon?
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home. …
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. …
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
What are the first signs of radon poisoning?
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
Can radon cause dementia?
But more recent research, performed at the University of North Dakota, indicates that radon may be a significant cause of two diseases of the brain: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Does a dehumidifier help with radon?
No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. … Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.
Is radon gas in older homes?
“Radon is found in homes new or old. … The EPA advises homeowners to mitigate if the radon level is above 4 pCi/L (10 times the average outdoor level), although “levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.” The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
