What is a radon test?
We use RTCA 48 hour continuous monitoring for our radon testing. Radon is a cancer causing, radioactive gas. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it. Radon is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon gas can enter a home from the soil under the house through cracks in the concrete slab, floors, or walls and through floor drains, sump pumps, construction joints and cracks or pores in hollow-block walls. Normal pressure differences between the house and the soil can create a slight vacuum in the basement, which can draw radon from the soil into the building. The design, construction and ventilation of the home can affect the radon levels of the home. Well water can be another source of indoor radon. Radon released by well water during showering or other activities may release radon gas into the home. Radon in water is a much smaller factor in radon exposure than radon in soil. Radon exposure outdoors is much less of a risk than indoors because the radon is diluted to low concentrations by the large volume of air. High levels of radon have been found in every state in the US. The average indoor radon level in the United States is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). One in fifteen homes in the US has radon levels above 4pCi/L, the EPA action level.
Why is radon dangerous?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Of the 155,000 lung cancer deaths annually in the United States, about 12% are due to radon exposure. Radon and its decay products are inhaled and become lodged in the lungs where they can radiate the cells lining the respiratory system. The radioactive decay products of the radon emits alpha particles which are damaging to these tissues. Exposure to elevated levels of radon greatly enhances the risk of lung cancer.
RTCA and the EPA recommend that all residences below the third floor level be tested for radon. In addition, the EPA also recommends testing all rooms in contact with the ground. If you have tested your home, you should retest every two years since radon levels can change with structural changes in the home. If you decide to use a lower floor of your home, such as a basement, you should test this level before occupancy. In addition, you should always test prior to the purchase of a home. If you have additional questions, about radon tests feel free to call our office and speak to an inspector.
