Radon comes from the breakdown of minerals in soil, rocks and water and causes thousand of deaths each year, reports the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon is present in homes, schools and businesses, although it cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. People are at most risk for radon poisoning at home because that is where they spend the most time. There are no immediate symptoms of overexposure to radon such as headaches or fatigue, but air that is tainted with radon can cause lung cancer. Radon poisoning is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking, reports the National Cancer Institute.
Outward Signs
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the uranium released from soil and rocks. Homes that have cracks, holes or open crawl spaces are at risk for radon contamination because most all soil contains some level of the toxin. Once inside, radon is trapped and inhabitants breathe it in. Homes resting on the ground with no crawl space or basement are just as likely to have radon as those with basements. New and old homes alike can be infiltrated with the non-odorous gas. The outward signs you should check for include gaps or cracks in the walls, gaps in the floor suspension and cavities in the walls. Radon can come into the house through exposed water pipes with any small leaks or cracks. Service pipes and other wires that create openings in the foundation or the walls can allow radon to seep in. The EPA estimates that one in 15 homes in the United States have radon.
Short-term Testing
While you can fix the obvious entry-points of the gas, the only way to tell if radon has already penetrated the air is by testing, reports the Environmental Protection Agency. Radon is measured by pico curies per liter of air, or pCi/L. Radon testing kits are available in hardware and retail stores and online. A short-term test is meant to measure the radon levels for anywhere from two to 90 days. The test kit should be placed above the floor nearest to the earth and left in the room with windows and doors closed as much as possible. After following the required time recommended in the instructions of an individual kit, you seal up the collected contents and send the kit to a lab for testing.
Long-term Testing
Because radon levels vary widely from day to day and from season to season, a long-term radon test is advisable, especially if you have unexplained illness as well as obvious outdoor signs of radon exposure. A long-term test can provide more accurate average readings.
Follow-Up
After getting a reading from the lab, you should follow up with another long or short-term test if your radon levels were above 4 pCi/L, which is the EPA recommended safe level. Close to .04 pCi/L is found naturally outdoors. Average levels in the home should range between 1.3 and 2 pCi/L.
