5. RAdon mitigation
Radon mitigation involves reducing radon gas levels in buildings to minimize health risks, particularly lung cancer. Effective mitigation requires both short-term and long-term strategies to ensure immediate safety and sustained protection over time.
SHORT TERM Short-term actions focus on quickly lowering radon levels, especially when test results show levels above the recommended safety threshold( typically 4 picocuries per liter, or pCi / L, in the U. S.). Ventilation is a common immediate step— opening windows and using fans to increase airflow can help disperse radon concentrations temporarily. Sealing cracks in floors and walls, especially in basements and foundations, can also reduce radon entry points. Additionally, short-term activated charcoal or electric air purifiers may slightly reduce radon levels in the air. These measures are not permanent solutions but are useful while more comprehensive systems are being planned or installed.
LONG TERM Long-term actions are essential for permanently reducing radon levels and preventing reaccumulation. The most effective long-term mitigation method is the installation of a sub-slab depressurization system, which uses a vent pipe and fan to draw radon from beneath the building and release it safely above the roofline. Other long-term solutions may include improving the building’ s overall ventilation, installing a radon-resistant membrane during construction, or incorporating radon barriers in foundations. Long-term monitoring is also crucial— periodic radon testing ensures that mitigation efforts remain effective and can alert homeowners to any resurgence of radon over time.