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The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), has announced that exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.   It disturbs me to think that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in our country could have elevated radon levels despite that testing and remediation is relatively inexpensive. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the decay of radium in the soil.  The radon concentration in a home is dependent on the type of soil the home is built on. Cracks, openings and various penetrations in the building foundation will provide the pathway for the radon in the soil to enter the home. The ventilation rate and air flow patterns within a house are important factors that will affect how much radon will be pulled into different areas within the house.

If you are interested in finding out if your home is effected, there are several different kinds of radon detectors available. Two categories of detectors are short term (typically 2 to 7 days) and long term which is anything from 3 to 12 months. Several factors can affect radon levels. Radon levels are known to be affected by the time of day, varying as the temperature changes during the day. They are also affected by the seasons generally rising in the winter while homes are buttoned up for long periods of time.

The most commonly used device for making short term radon measurements in homes is the charcoal canister. Usually this device is a small metal container, about the size and shape of a can of tuna fish, that contains activated charcoal. The radon in the air is adsorbed on the charcoal and the decay products can then be measured by a laboratory to determine the concentration of radon in the air. These devices are fairly quick, inexpensive, and easy to use.  Continuous electronic radon monitors generally produce more precise radon measurements, however they are more expensive and should only be used by professional radon testing firms.

Long term measurements are the best way to know the annual average radon level in your home. While short term tests are useful for screening and for situations where results are needed quickly, a long term test will usually be a better indicator of the average radon level.  The New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency use 4 pCi/L as a recommended action level.

The good news is that radon levels in a house can be reduced. This can be done by several methods, but one of the most widely used methods is the active sub-slab depressurization system. This technique will reroute the radon gas from the soil away from the house, by venting the soil gas from beneath the basement to a point above the roof. This technique is very effective and will typically cost between $1000 and $1500 to install.

January is National Radon Awareness Month.; You can learn more about radon detection and awareness Saturday mornings in January on http://www.propertysourceradio.com " Property Source Radio

Courtesy of "The Fixie Chick"