Radon issues aren’t limited to your house. In fact, the EPA estimates more than 70,000 schoolrooms have high short-term radon levels.
Radon exposure can come from drinking water, too. The gas dissolves in groundwater and enters your house when it’s released into the air during common household tasks like washing dishes or using water to cook. Surface water from a river, lake, or reservoir isn’t at risk for radon.
High radon levels come from the soil surrounding your house. The gas enters through cracks and openings, putting older homes at risk for higher levels of radon. If the air pressure of a house is lower than the soil, a vacuum effect allows radon gas to come inside. You’ll find radon levels higher in basements and first floors of homes due to
their proximity to the ground.
The risk of lung cancer from radon
Although anyone exposed to radon has a small risk of getting lung cancer, there are several factors that can increase your risk. They range from the amount of radon in
your home and the amount of time you spend in your home to if you’re a smoker or
burn other substances (wood, coal) that add particles to the air.
For example, a smoker exposed to radon levels of 4 pCi/L during his or her lifetime would result in lung cancer 6.2 percent of the time compared to 0.7 percent of the
time for nonsmokers.
How to test for heightened radon levels
The EPA estimates 1 in 15 U.S. homes has radon levels at or above the threshold.
Studies show lowering radon levels can reduce 5,000 lung cancer deaths.
The good news is it takes years of constant radon exposure to develop health risks. That’s why it is so important to test your house for radon now to get ahead of any potential problems.
You can find radon test kits online or at your local hardware or home improvement
store. Some states also offer free or discounted kits. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality offers free radon test kits to residents.
Additionally, The National Radon Program Services sells inexpensive radon test kits.
The kits cost either $15 for a short-term test or $25 for a long-term test. The short-
term test kit collects data for 2-4 days. A long-term test kit lasts 3-12 months. With either test, you send the kit back to the manufacturer at no charge. Long-term tests
are preferred due to accuracy.
* THIS IS IMPORTANT: The CDC warns that you should fix houses with radon levels greater than 4 pCi/L. Levels between 2 and 3.9 pCi/L are considered higher than average and you should consider fixing if your level falls in that range. Anything below that is average.
Preventing and alleviating radon exposure
Now that you’re aware of radon, what are the next steps? In 2015, the EPA introduced the National Radon Action Plan to help reduce radon risk. Since its inception, the plan has helped decrease levels in five million homes and will end up saving 3,200 lives annually by 2020.
For starters, be aware of radon when you make your next move to a new neighborhood or when you build a new house. The EPA has a handy map to see which areas in each state are more prone to radon exposure. In Oklahoma, Zone 3 makes up most of the state, with predicted indoor radon screening levels less than 2 pCi/L. However, several counties in northeast Oklahoma and northwest Oklahoma fall in Zone 2, which are counties with predicted average indoor radon screening levels from 2 to 4 pCi/L.
*THIS IS IMPORTANT: The EPA reminds us that levels can vary even by neighborhood. No two houses are the same, so they recommend every household conduct testing.
For a new home, ask your contractor to use radon-resistance features. The up-front costs are minimal, as the EPA estimates they run between $250 and $750. Compare this to the ultimate cost of possibly developing lung cancer, and the decision is easy to be proactive. Radon-resistant home building includes:
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In the event your current house tests high for elevated levels of radon, some fixes could be DIY, including sealing and caulking cracks in the foundation, improving your home’s natural ventilation and creating room pressurization with fans.
However, the EPA recommends that you have a qualified radon mitigation contractor fix your home because it may need a radon mitigation system installed. A radon mitigation system consists of a vent pipe, fan and the proper sealing of cracks. This system collects radon gas from underneath the foundation and vents it to the outside of your home.
Contact your state radon office for a list of licensed radon mitigation professionals in your area. Detailed information about radon reduction in your home or building can be found in the EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction.
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