suppose current radon levels are under, but are rising toward the WHO 2.7 pCi/L threshold, ventilation decisions can be made from the upward slope of the trend line.
If the slope of the radon trend line shown on one’s smartphone is rising, one can think of it as a proxy for other pollutants or pathogens possibly simultaneously accumulating and ventilate accordingly. The effect of opening a window or turning on a ventilation fan will soon be reflected in the radon reading. Why not drive such decisions on the basis of the only common indoor pollutant that is well documented to, over the long term, have potentially serious affects on one’s health?
So, is a real-time high sensitivity radon detector the single best option for an IAQ device after smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? There is a case to be made.
References
1. U.S. fire deaths: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/fire_death_rates.html
2. Indoor CO2 levels: https://www.nist.gov/publications/quit-blaming-ashrae-standard-621-1000-ppm-co2
3. LBNL study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548274/
4. USDA CO2 safety standards: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-08/Carbon-Dioxide.pdf
5. Submarine CO2 levels: https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB7571.pdf
6. tVOCs found in homes and their sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4057989/
7. Air Quality Index: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
8. Dust mite allergies: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173
9. NYT review of IAQ devices: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-home-air-quality-monitor/
10. Stanley, F.K.T., Irvine, J.L., Jacques, W.R. et al., “Radon exposure is rising steadily within the modern North American residential environment and is increasingly uniform across seasons,” Sci Rep 9, 18472 (2019).
11. EPA Citizens Guide to Radon: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/2016_a_citizens_guide_to_radon.pdf
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