| 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.
|
