ABOUT RADON

WHAT IS RADON?

Radon is a radioactive gas, which you cannot see, smell, or taste. 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 your foundation. Your home traps Radon inside, where it can build up. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States are estimated to have elevated Radon levels.

FAQ’s

How does radon get into your home?

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. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.

For more information, see www.epa.gov/radon and www.epa.gov/radon/citizens-guide-radon-guide-protecting-yourself-and-your-family-radon.

What is EPA's Action Level for Radon and What Does it Mean?

Radon in air is ubiquitous (existing or being everywhere at the same time). Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

The average indoor radon concentration for America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. It is upon this national average indoor level that EPA based its estimate of 21,000 radon-related lung cancers a year. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.

Read "A Citizen's Guide to Radon" at www.epa.gov/radon/citizens-guide-radon-guide-protecting-yourself-and-your-family-radon

Read about Radon Health Risks at www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

How much can a radon mitigation system cost?

You have tested your home for radon, but now what? If you have tested your home for radon and confirmed that you have elevated radon levels, 4 picocuries per liter in air (pCi/L) or higher, our guidance can help you:

• Select a qualified radon mitigation contractor to reduce the radon levels in your home.

• Determine an appropriate radon reduction method.

• Maintain your radon reduction system.

Radon reduction systems work. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. Your costs may vary depending on the size and design of your home and which radon reduction methods are needed. Get an estimate from one or more qualified radon mitigation contractors. Hundreds of thousands of people have reduced radon levels in their homes.

Read a Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction at www.epa.gov/radon/consumers-guide-radon-reduction-how-fix-your-home.

You should also test your home again after it is fixed to be sure that radon levels have been reduced. Most soil suction radon reduction systems include a monitor that will indicate whether the system is operating properly. In addition, it’s a good idea to retest your home every two years to be sure radon levels remain low.

FACTS ABOUT RADON

Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer in Non-smokers and Smokers Alike

The Facts...

• Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented.

• Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* cancer deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004). And the rate among women is rising. On January 11, 1964, Dr. Luther L. Terry, then U.S. Surgeon General, issued the first warning on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.

• Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon.

• World Health Organization's international radon project

• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious consequences for children’s health, including asthma attacks, affecting the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), and may cause ear infections.

• For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer.

CONTACT

RICHMOND RADON TESTING

PHONE | 804-773-0090

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Studies Find Direct Evidence Linking Radon in Homes to Lung Cancer

(2005) Two studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miners who breathed radon for a period of years.

Early in the debate about radon-related risks, some researchers questioned whether occupational studies could be used to calculate risks from exposure to radon in the home environment. “These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes,” said Tom Kelly, Former Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division. “We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer.”

Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, Releases National Health Advisory on Radon

(January 13, 2005) U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, issues a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air. The Chief Physician urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they might be breathing.

Dr. Carmona also stressed the need to remedy the problem as soon as possible when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more, noting that more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year.

World Health Organization's International Radon Project

(2009) The World Health Organization (WHO) says radon causes up to 15% of lung cancers worldwide. In an effort to reduce the rate of lung cancer around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international radon project to help countries increase awareness, collect data and encourage action to reduce radon-related risks.

The U.S. EPA is one of several government agencies and countries supporting this initiative and is encouraged by WHO’s attention to this important public health issue.

"Radon poses an easily reducible health risk to populations all over the world, but has not up to now received widespread attention," said Dr. Michael Repacholi, coordinator of WHO’s Radiation and Environmental Health Unit. He went on to say that "radon in our homes is the main source of exposure to ionizing radiation, and accounts for 50% of the public’s exposure to naturally-occurring sources of radiation in many countries."

Radon-related Lung Cancer Deaths Compared to Other Select Cancers

The following graphic compares EPA estimates of the annual radon-related lung cancer deaths to other selected cancers. The other mortality numbers in this graphic were obtained from theNational Cancer Institute's 2010 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) estimated US mortality numbers (PDF)(1 pp, 15 K,About PDF).

*EPA website is the source for above info https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

RADON TESTING AND MITIGATION

Radon Testing

The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter of air” or pCi/L. There are many kinds of low-cost “do it yourself” radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Indoor radon usually reaches its maximum concentration during the coldest winter months. The lowest livable level of the structure should always be tested because that is where the highest radon levels in the structure are typically found.Short term testing (2-7 days) should NOT be performed during unusually severe stormsbecauseheavy precipitation, high sustained winds and powerful low pressure systems might allcause temporaryhigh spikes in indoor radon levels.Every section of the home that is in contact with the ground should be tested, especially differentfoundation types that are on different elevations.

All radon test devices must be approved by either the NRSB or NRPP (see below).If you prefer, and especially if you are buying or selling a home, you may hire a trained professional to perform radon testing for you. Depending on the test device used, a professional radon test will usually cost between $100-200. The Virginia Code requires that professional radon testers be currently certified by either the NRSB or the NRPP.

AARST –National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP)
527 N. Justice St.
Hendersonville, NC 28739
(828) 348-0185
e-mail:info@nrpp.info

Search for Radon Professionals currently certified by NRPP :NRPP

The National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)
14 Hayes Street
Elmsford, NY 10523
Toll Free: (866) 329-3474
Fax: (914) 345-1169
e-mail:info@nrsb.org

Search for Radon Professionals currently certified by NRSB: NRSB

Radon Mitigation (Richmond Radon Testing does not offer mitigation services)

A variety of methods are used to reduce radon in your home. In some cases, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. In other cases, simple systems using pipes and fans may be used.Such systems are called “sub-slab depressurization” and do not require major changes to your home. These systems remove radon gas from below the concrete floor and the foundation before it can enter the home. The right system depends on the design of your home and on other factors.

Ways to reduce radon in your home are discussed in EPA’s “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction” atRadonMitigationMethods

The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem. A typical sub slab system may cost $800-1200 while crawl spaces or homes with multiple sections that need to be mitigated may cost $2000 or more. The Virginia Code requires that professional radon mitigators be currently certified by either the NRSB or NRPP (see above.)

*The above info came from: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program/testing/