Radon is a colorless and odorless
radioactive gas that has been estimated to cause 5,000 to 20,000 lung cancer
deaths yearly. It is second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. It has
been estimated that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the US has elevated radon
levels.
Radon is produced when small amounts of uranium and radium in
soil and rocks decay. Radon gas will also decay into smaller and radioactive
particles that can be inhaled into the lungs where it can damage cells and cause
lung cancer.
Radon is mainly released from soil, water and natural gas
which have already been exposed to radon, from solar-heating systems that use
radon-emitting rocks, and from uranium or phosphate mine tailings. Radon is
naturally released in low concentrations, but inside your house, radon gas can
become more concentrated. Lack of ventilation exhaust fans that bring in air
from outside can increase the amount of radon in your home.
The
Environmental Protection Agency suggests that homes be tested for radon, which
should have a radon level of 4 picocuries per liter or less. For people selling
their homes, the EPA recommends that the house be tested for radon, and radon
levels be reduced, if necessary. Radon levels can be reduced by increasing the
airflow into the house, keeping the vents open year round, and discouraging
smoking in the house. For people buying homes, the EPA recommends obtaining
radon test results in addition to information about radon reduction systems.
If you are planning to have your home tested for radon, the EPA
recommends that the test be conducted in the lowest level of the home that is
suitable for occupancy, and you should make sure that the test is done correctly
by following the EPA Test Checklist.
There are two different types of
testing devices available: passive devices and active devices. Passive devices,
such as charcoal canisters, alpha track detectors, and charcoal liquid
scintillation devices are exposed to air in the home for a specified amount of
time, and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. Active devices, like continuous
radon monitors and continuous working level monitors, continuously measure and
record the amount of radon in the air, and require operation by trained testers.
These tests can be performed over a long term, or a short term, with the long
term tests by active devices considered to be more accurate.