For More Information on Radon...

National Radon Program Services 

2012 Radon Poster Contest Winner

check out these sites:

• A Citizen's Guide to Radon (EPA)
• American Lung Association
• Radon - Your Safe Home (University of Minnesota, Extension)
• Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR)
• National Radon Program Services (Kansas State University)

image from http://sosradon.org/

Radon Mitigation

The goal of mitigation is to reduce the radon levels inside a home to below 4 pCi/L. This can be done by using one or a combination of any of the following methods, depending on the structure of the home:

• Ventilation System - passive ventilation can be done by opening or installing vents. Active ventilation uses a fan to blow air through.
• Suction System - like ventilation systems, a suction system can be active or passive. Active sub-slab suction is the most common and reliable system because it sucks radon gas from under the home's foundation and vents it outside. Passive sub-slab suction is the same as active suction, except that it uses air currents instead of a fan. Passive suction systems are not as effective.
• Sealing Cracks - sealing cracks in the foundation of a home will limit the flow of radon into a home and make other methods more effective, but it is only a temporary fix since new cracks may form and old cracks may reopen.
• House Pressurization - this is accomplished by using a fan to blow air into lower levels of a home, creating high pressure that will keep radon from entering.
• Heat Recovery Ventilator - increases ventilation in a home by introducing outdoor air by using the heated or cooled exhaust air to warm or cool the incoming air.

Minnesota Department of Health has a list of contractors that specialize in radon mitigation - this list may be helpful if you choose to hire a professional to mitigate your home.



image from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/radonconbrochure.pdf

Radon Test Results

• If you followed up a short-term test with a long-term test, fix your home if your long-term test results is 4 pCi/L or more.
• If you followed up a short-term test with a second short-term test, the higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. 

image from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/radonconbrochure.pdf

Radon Testing Steps and Guidelines

Radon Testing Steps:

EPA recommends the following steps

1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test (step 2) to be sure.
2. Follow up with either a long-term or a second short-term test.
3. If you followed up with a long-term test: fix your home if your long-term test results is 4 pCi/L or more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: the higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. 

Radon Testing Guidelines: 

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends keeping the following guidelines in mind when testing for radon

• Time of year - the amount of radon is usually highest during the heating season.  Long-term tests should span both the heating and non-heating seasons.
• Weather patterns - short-term tests should not be conducted during severe weather or unusually high winds.
• Test location - test the lowest level of the home that is regularly used.
• Disturbances - place the kit at least 20 inches above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed.  Also, place the kit away from drafts, high heat, high humidity and exterior walls. Test kits that are disturbed or moved during a test may provide inaccurate results.
• Timeliness of analysis - once you've finished, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package. Results may be inaccurate if the kit isn't sent as soon as possible after you've completed the test.

Radon Test Kits

Testing for radon is important, especially if you have never tested for radon before, you are buying a new home, you have made major structural renovations to your home or if you've just installed a new heating or central air conditioning unit.  Also, it is recommended that every home be retested for radon every 2 - 5 years.

Short-term:

These tests measure radon levels for 2-7 days and are often used to make an initial assessment of radon levels inside a home. Remember to follow the instructions that come with the kit!

short-term test

Long-term:
These tests determine the average concentration for a minimum of 90 days.  Long-term tests are the best way to estimate the average amount of radon in a home during the year, so they are often used for retesting a home if the initial, short-term test results in a value of over 4 pCi/L.  Again, remember to follow the instructions that come with the kit!

long-term test

Radon test kits usually cost between $5 and $25 dollars, depending on the type of kit (short-term tests are generally less expensive than long-term tests) and can be purchased at many hardware or home supply stores.

images from http://weheartminnesota.com/2011/06/22/radon-the-invisible-gangsta/ and http://www.radonzone.com/alpha-track-test-kit.html
information from http://www.health.state.mn.us/

Pathways for Radon to Enter a Home

 

image from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/

Is Radon Dangerous?

YES.

Health Effects:

• Lung cancer is the only known health effect of radon.
• Radon causes lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers.  
• According to EPA estimates, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
• For smokers, the risk of lung cancer due to radon is greater than for non-smokers because of the synergistic effects of radon and smoking.
• Radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

Greatest Exposure:

• Our greatest exposure to radon is in our homes because radon accumulates indoors and we spend most of our time at home.

Preventable?

• Yes, the negative health effects of radon are entirely preventable. We can test and fix our homes so that radon does not accumulate in our homes.  The EPA recommends that homes be mitigated if radon levels are found to be greater than 4 pCi/L.
• It's never too late to test and fix your home!

image and information from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

Radon Radio Show

Tune in to:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

from 12:00 - 1:00 pm 

This is a special broadcast for National Radon Action Month! Guests include Vivian Craig (Navajo) Environmental Specialist/Navajo Radon Program, Twa-le Abrahamson (Spokane /Colville/Coeur d'Alene/Navajo) Air Quality Coordinator/Spokane Tribe, and Mansel Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator/ Northern Arizona University's Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.

If you are unable to listen to the broadcast live, you can listen to the recording archived on the Native America Calling website.

Where Radon Comes From

Radon gas comes from the natural breaking down of uranium in almost all soils.  Uranium breaks down into radium, which then further disintegrates and turns into radon - a radioactive gas.  This gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air we breathe.  There is no known, safe level of radon gas exposure.

 

image from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/radonconbrochure.pdf

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.

Radon also:

• is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas
• is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
• is present everywhere
• can concentrate indoors

image from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/builderpacket.pdf

National Radon Action Month!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month, so this month we will focus on radon.  Stop by all month to find out what radon is and how you can protect your health and the health of your family!


image from http://www.epa.gov/radon/