How Radon Air Testing Can Protect Your Family

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It's odorless, colorless, and tasteless, so the only way to know if radon is present in your home is to test for it. While exposure to radon doesn't cause any immediate symptoms, long-term exposure can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. In fact, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Thankfully, radon testing is easy and inexpensive, and high levels can be fixed to protect your family's health. Here's what you need to know about radon air testing and reducing radon levels in your home.

What is Radon and How Does it Enter Homes?

Radon is a radioactive gas formed from the natural radioactive decay of uranium. Trace amounts of uranium are found in nearly all soils and rocks, so radon gas forms underground and seeps up into the air. Outdoors, radon becomes diluted to low concentrations and isn't a concern. However, when radon enters an enclosed space like a house, it can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Radon typically moves up through the ground and enters homes through cracks and gaps in the foundation. Opening in floors and walls, construction joints, cracks in concrete walls and floors, spaces around service pipes, support posts, window casements, sump pumps, and cavities inside walls allow radon to flow into the home and build up inside. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the indoor air when water is used for showering and other household uses.

Health Risks of Radon Exposure

Radon decays into radioactive particles that can be inhaled into the lungs. Inside the lungs, these particles release small bursts of energy that damage lung tissue and can eventually cause lung cancer. Radon exposure is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. In fact, the Surgeon General and EPA estimate that radon causes over 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S.

Smokers are at an especially high risk, as smoking combined with radon exposure greatly increases the chances of developing lung cancer. Children and the elderly may also be more susceptible to radon-related health problems. While radon does not cause any short-term symptoms, long-term exposure (over many years) significantly raises the risk of developing lung cancer. The only way to know if radon is present is to test the air in your home.

Recommended Radon Levels

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set an action level of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) for radon in indoor air. At this level, it's recommended that homeowners take action to reduce radon levels in their homes. The higher a home's radon level, the greater the health risk. Here are the EPA's radon risk zones:

4 pCi/L or higher: Fix your home - Take action to reduce radon levels.
2 - 4 pCi/L: Fix your home - Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
Less than 2 pCi/L: No action needed - Maintain radon reduction systems.

Any radon exposure carries some degree of risk. However, radon levels less than 2 pCi/L pose a relatively low risk and do not require mitigation in most cases. Between 2 and 4 pCi/L poses a moderate risk, and abatement measures are recommended but not required. 4 pCi/L or greater represents a significant health risk and requires action to reduce radon levels in the home.

Types of Radon Testing

Radon testing is the only way to find out if a home has an elevated radon level. There are two main types of radon tests available:

Short-term test: This quick test remains in your home for 2 to 90 days, with a minimum of 48 hours. Short-term tests are relatively inexpensive and give you a snapshot of your home's radon level. However, radon levels tend to fluctuate day-to-day and season-to-season, so a short-term test may not capture your home's year-round average.

Long-term test: This test remains in your home for more than 90 days to give you an average radon level over time. Long-term tests give a better understanding of your home's year-round radon levels. However, they take longer and are slightly more expensive than short-term tests.

The EPA recommends performing a long-term test at the lowest lived-in level of your home. An initial short-term screening on each level of the home can help determine if a long-term test is needed. Contact a qualified radon tester or laboratory to obtain test kits and ensure proper procedures are followed.

When to Test for Radon

The EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor for radon. Even new homes should be tested, as they can still have dangerous radon levels. Here are some situations when testing your home for radon is especially important:

Buying a new home: Test before purchase or make the test a contingency in the contract.
Spending a lot of time in lower levels: Test in basements or first floors that are frequently occupied.
Making renovations: Major renovations can alter radon levels. Test after work is complete.
Extreme weather: Changes in air pressure can affect radon levels. Test after major storms, tornadoes, hurricanes etc.
Lived in the home a long time: Radon can increase over time. Test every 2 years.
Water source is groundwater: Wells have a greater risk than municipal water.
Planning additions/major renovations: Updating your home is a good time to test.
Family health history of lung cancer: Radon testing is especially important.

Testing your home's radon levels should be part of regular home maintenance and preventative care to protect your family's health. Follow recommended testing guidelines and retest periodically to detect any changes.

Interpreting Your Radon Test Results

After completing a radon test, the results will be reported in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). This unit measures radioactivity, indicating how much radon was found in the air. When checking your results, be sure to compare them to your state's action level to determine whether mitigation is recommended.

In most states, 4 pCi/L is the EPA-recommended action level and mitigation is suggested at or above this level. Between 2 and 4 pCi/L falls into the moderate risk zone - mitigation is a smart precaution in this range to reduce risk. Under 2 pCi/L is considered low risk. However, there is no known safe level of radon since lung cancer risk increases with prolonged exposure to any amount of radon.

Variables like weather, closed/open windows, and air circulation when testing can affect results. If your test result is just above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends a follow-up test to be sure. Talk to your radon tester about getting a second test if your initial result is borderline. They can also help interpret results and determine if mitigation is recommended. The higher a home's radon level, the sooner mitigation should be put in place to reduce risk.

How to Reduce High Radon Levels

The good news is high radon levels can be lowered cost-effectively. If your home's radon level is 4 pCi/L or more, you should take steps to reduce radon in your indoor air. Here are some ways radon reduction can be achieved:

Seal cracks and openings. Closing off access points in the foundation and sealing openings around pipes and wires prevents radon from entering. Caulk cracks in walls and floors, seal sump pump holes, and ensure crawl space vents are properly closed when not in use.
Increase under-floor ventilation. Improving air circulation under floors and in crawl spaces allows radon to ventilate before it gets inside. Ensure crawl spaces are properly ventilated to the outdoors.
Install a radon mitigation system. This specialized ventilation system uses a fan and piping to pull radon from below the home and vent it above the roof where it can disperse harmlessly. This is the most effective way to reduce high radon. A qualified radon mitigation contractor should design and install the right system for your home.
Use a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). HRVs filter and continually exchange air from inside a home with fresh air from outside. This regular air circulation dilutes and exhausts radon. HRVs are often installed along with radon mitigation systems.
Perform sub-slab depressurization. A suction point drilled through the basement floor helps draw radon from underneath before it can enter the home. This method requires altering the foundation and professional installation.

Reducing high radon levels requires technical knowledge and proper materials. Work with a certified radon mitigation specialist to design a system tailored to your home. With the right mitigation method, radon levels can usually be reduced by up to 99%.

Maintaining a Radon Reduction System

If a radon mitigation system is installed, it requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring. Follow these tips to keep your radon reduction system working properly:

Check the fan regularly. Ensure the system fan is working and not obstructed. Fans may need occasional repairs.
Monitor the manometer. This device indicates whether pressure is being maintained in the piping to draw radon up from below. Make sure readings are in the safe zone.
Test radon levels annually. Continue testing radon levels in the home once a year to confirm the mitigation system is working as intended.
Keep system parts in good condition. Inspect all system parts from intake pipes to exhaust vents. Repair cracks or leaks right away to maintain suction.
Service the system annually. Have a radon professional inspect the full mitigation system, check fan function, and ensure proper operation.
Follow manufacturer instructions. Keep all system components like gaskets, seals, and labels in good working order.

With routine service and testing, a radon mitigation system can keep your home's radon at safe levels for many years. Proper maintenance is key to reducing radon exposure risk.

Creating a Healthy and Radon-Free Home Environment

Taking steps to reduce high radon levels ensures your family breathes easier in a home environment that promotes health and wellness. Here are some ways you can make your home radon-free and family-friendly:

Perform thorough radon testing and install a mitigation system if levels are 4 pCi/L or higher.
Test radon levels regularly, at least every 2 years, to monitor your home.
Maintain the radon mitigation system with annual inspections and keep detailed records.
Improve indoor air quality by increasing ventilation, using air filters, and reducing moisture.
Have a qualified radon professional close off entry points through foundation cracks sealing, crawl space covers, and caulking.
Discuss radon risks and testing guidelines with any potential buyers if you plan to sell your home.
Consider smart home technology like sensors that monitor radon and send alerts if levels rise.
Limit tobacco smoke indoors and be aware of risk factors like radon and smoking combined.

Protecting your household from the health risks of radon exposure provides comfort in knowing your family breathes easy in a home that's free of radioactive contaminants. Stay vigilant with regular radon testing and mitigation system maintenance.

Conclusion

Radon gas is a very real health threat, especially for families who spend a lot of time indoors at home. The danger is that radon has no warning signs and can only be detected through testing. While exposure occurs over a long period of time, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer from radon is significant. The good news is that radon is easy and affordable to test for, and high radon levels can be reduced through proven mitigation techniques. By understanding the sources of radon, how to properly test your home, interpreting results accurately, and how to lower high radon levels, you can protect your family's health for years to come. Keep your household safe by making radon testing and mitigation a priority in your home maintenance routine.