Radon is lung cancer waiting to happen. Because you cannot see, smell or taste its presence, this naturally occurring radioactive gas is a silent killer. Radon is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium, typically present in a type of rock called igneous rock, in soil and sometimes well water. As a single-atom gas, radon can penetrate almost any surface, making seepage into homes and office buildings possible. Because it displays no evidence of being present, however, the only way to detect it is to conduct radon testing using established protocols.
Time Frame
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, recommends testing for the presence of radon gas before buying or selling a home, and both before and after renovations to unfinished portions of your home. Do not rely on tests others in your neighborhood may perform to determine whether radon is present in your home. The EPA cautions that even homes adjacent to each other can have differing radon levels.
Types of Tests
The protocol or guidelines used to conduct radon testing are the same whether you conduct a short-or long-term test. Short-term testing covers a period of 90 days or less, using a radon-detection device such as a charcoal canister, alpha track, electret ion chamber, continuous monitor or charcoal liquid scintillation. Short-term testing is appropriate when you need results quickly or as a first step to determine whether you need to conduct further testing.
Long-term testing covers a period of more than 90 days, typically using an alpha track or electret ion chamber. Long-term testing is appropriate to determine a year-round average radon level.
Testing Procedures
Conduct radon testing in the lowest-level living space of your home, whether finished or unfinished. You can complete the testing yourself using a test kit you purchase and then send in for analysis, or hire a certified radon inspector. Whichever you choose, successful radon testing involves following strict protocols. In addition to following any specific manufacturer protocols that come with your test, the EPA recommends following a three-step protocol.
First, conduct a short-term test. The room in which you conduct the test must be draft-free, so at least 12 hours before beginning the test, close outside doors and windows. If you plan to complete the test in less than four days, pick a time when weather reports do not predict severe storms or high winds. Place the testing device a minimum of 20 inches from the floor in a room you use on a regular basis, but not your kitchen or bathroom. Choose a location away from exterior walls and air vents. When the test is complete, follow the manufacturer protocol to package and send it in for analysis.
Second, analyze results and follow up. Where you go from here depends on short-term test results. The EPA defines a radon reading of 4 pCi/L or higher as an action level. If your reading is between 4 pCi/L and 8 pCi/L, conduct another long-term test to determine average radon levels. If your reading is over 8 pCi/L, complete another short-term test.
Prevention/Solution
There is no such thing as a safe level of radon gas. EPA recommendations include taking steps to fix your home if readings are above 2 pCi/L. Fixing your home starts with inspecting the foundation, sealing cracks and openings and tightening windows. Then, provide adequate ventilation to remove radon by installing a sub-slab depressurization system. Depressurization involves vent pipes and fans designed to suction radon gas from underneath the foundation of your home and vent it to the outside. If your home has a crawlspace instead of a basement, a process called submembrane suction is the most effective means of reducing radon levels. This process involves covering the ground of the crawlspace with a high-density plastic sheet, then using a vent pipe and fan system to suction gas from underneath the plastic to the outside air.
Considerations
If you decide to hire an outside agency to complete radon testing protocol or install adequate ventilation, make sure to hire only radon-qualified or -certified professionals. Check your state radon office for a list of qualified individuals and companies.
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