Given that the RadonEye provides a new 1-hour average every ten minutes and the Wave devices produce a new 24-hour average every hour, it is understandable that there is a lag of several hours (in Figure 4 clearly a day) in fully responding to changes in radon level. If one desires to quickly survey a number of locations within a home to decide upon where to set-up long- term testing, such a lag does present an issue. In a laboratory environment where the level of radon is kept constant, such lag times may be irrelevant; however, in a practical environment where radon levels often fluctuate wildly, RadonEye products from Ecosense likely provide more accurate initial measurements.
Decision making on radon mitigation projects should be made on the basis of long term multi-seasonal testing; however, there is value in short term data. If trends in short- term data may be visualized on one's smartphone, it is increasingly likely a consumer may be able to correlate
high and low values to at least indoor/outdoor temperature differential and ventilation behavior. Depending upon the interest a consumer takes, it is entirely possible to get into the habit of turning on ventilation or cracking open a window or two when readings creep higher.
3. Gimpo University
In 2016, a study was performed at Gimpo University (Gimpodaehak—ro, Republic of Korea) in which the RadonEye was compared to the Rad7. [Ref. 3] The radon chamber used was a small outdoor building of ~10 m3 volume designed to simulate single story residential construction methods (including a peaked roof and a conventional door and window). The negative pressure effects of diurnal temperature changes produced a draw on an externally ducted solid source producing radon by radioactive decay. Over a period of ~500 hours, radon concentrations varied over the range of 10- 500 Bq/m3 (0.27-13.5 pCi/L). Figure 5 shows that RadonEye was able to essentially read identically to the Rad7 (then, per the researchers, priced at ~$8,000).
The area circled within Figure 5 corresponds to rising and falling radon levels across the US. and Canadian recommended thresholds for homeowners to make remediation decisions.
Consumer Reports
While the widely trusted Consumer Reports organization (Yonkers, NY), a non- profit, has produced articles comparing radon detection products in the past, these predate the general consumer availability of continuous electronic monitors. Their reporting thus focuses on passive detection approaches such as plastic chip track detectors and carbon absorption cartridges, both of which must be sent away for laboratory analysis after exposure. Ecosense is lobbying for an update study to include electronic monitors.
Third party cross-comparative studies have confirmed that RadonEye products are as accurate as professional grade radon test equipment priced many times higher. Nothing is sacrificed if one opts for more economical radon measurement solutions from Ecosense.
Importantly, due to the 30 CPH capability of Ecosense products resulting in 10- minute updates, both consumers and professionals are able to use the product as a "sniffer." We suggest that if left for an hour in every position of interest, hot spots can be identified in which to set up either timed inspections or continuous monitoring. With Ecosense products, and the data Visualizations our software makes available to coupled smartphone devices, one can not only perform the most accurate test, but, with minimal additional time invested, one can determine the best place to test. And, if anything concerning is found, remember to call in your trusted radon professional!
Re erences
1. M. Carmona and K. Kearfot, Intercomparison of Commercially Available Active Radon Measurement Devices in a Discovered Radon Chamber," Health Physics, 116 (6), pp 852- 861, 2019
2. B. Snead and B. Hanson, “Kansas State Radon Chamber Ecosense Consumer Device Comparison,” unpublished private communication (available upon request from Ecosense)
3. Kyungbuk Park, “Comparison of RadonEye and Rad7," Gimpo University, unpublished private communication (available upon request from Ecosense)
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Gimpo University Comparison of Ecosense’s RadonEye & Durridge’s Rad7
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