Radon is a radioactive gas that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates causes 21,000 deaths a year--more than drunk driving and drowning combined. The danger that radon poses in your home is dependent upon the level of the gas in the air. If a test reveals dangerous levels of radon, you can take corrective measures to protect your family's health.
Definition
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas formed by the decay of uranium in the ground. Radon itself swiftly decays. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility explains that the half-life of radon--the amount of time it takes for half of a given amount to decay--is 3.8 days. If radon is inhaled, the particles that it emits as it decays are potential carcinogens.
Significance
Radon can enter buildings through cracks, soil or well water. Every home should be checked for radon at least once. You can use a short-term or long-term test kit, depending on whether you want quick results or a year-round average. Tests are available at hardware stores. If you want a professional tester, contact your state radon office.
Measurement
Radon levels are measured by the unit of pCi/L, which means picocuries per liter. This is defined as one-trillionth of a curie, which measures how much a radioactive substance such as radon disintegrates in a given volume. A greater amount of radon per volume of air will emit more damaging radiation.
Risks
The average outdoor level of radon, according to the EPA, is 0.4 pCi/L. The average indoor levels, however, are 1.3 pCi/L. Anything above 4 pCi/L is considered abnormal. At that level, seven out of every 1,000 are likely to develop lung cancer, which is about the risk of dying in a car crash. At 10 pCi/L, 18 people out of 1,000 are at risk for lung cancer--20 times the risk of dying in a house fire. At 20 pCi/L, the risk is 36 out of every 1,000.
The odds of developing cancer from radon go up greatly for a person who smokes regularly, because the lungs are already damaged. For instance, at 20 pCi/L, 260 out of 1,000 smokers are at risk for lung cancer—more than a 25 percent chance. The increased odds are not quite so pronounced for former smokers, however.
Preventions
Radon levels above 4 pCi/L should be addressed immediately. If the levels of radon in your home are between 2 and 4 pCi/L, it's recommended that you consider having radon-reduction work done on your home. Levels below 2 pCi/L are difficult to reduce using standard radon mitigation.
The type of mitigation used depends on the nature of the building. Mitigation can include ventilation, soil suction, crack sealing and pressurization of the lower floors of the building to prevent radon from entering. You can contact your state radon office for certified contractors in your area.
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