Myth 4 : Testing your house for radon is costly and timeconsuming .
Myth 5 : Reducing the radon level inside your home is very expensive .
Myth 6 : Radon is a problem only in certain parts of the country .
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Myth 4 : Testing your house for radon is costly and timeconsuming .
The typical test is simple and inexpensive . Test kits can be purchased at home improvement stores , hardware stores , or online for about $ 20 to $ 30 . “ It usually is about the size of a hockey puck and has perforated holes and charcoal inside ,” Dr . Bellamy says . “ You open it , like you would an air freshener , leave it sitting for a few days in your house in one of the lower‐level rooms , and then send it off to a lab for testing .” I think the EPA has a great message , which is very clear : ' Test . Fix . Save a life .'
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air ( pCi / L ), an indicator of radioactivity . The average indoor radon level in the United States is about 1.3 pCi / L . The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi / L . Both the U . S . Surgeon General and EPA recommend fixing homes with radon levels at or above 4.0 pCi / L .
Many people are unaware of the high levels they may be facing . According to a 2022 report from the American Lung Association , radon tests showed that 22 % of homes in Massachusetts were above the 4.0 pCi / L EPA action level .
Myth 5 : Reducing the radon level inside your home is very expensive .
The process , called radon mitigation , is easier than most people think . Rather than trying to seal the house so that radon doesn ’ t seep in at all , the most common method diverts the radon gas from under the basement floor through a pipe to the outside — either through the roof like a chimney or through a wall to a vent . Once outdoors , the radon gas dissipates and is not a hazard .
Radon mitigation systems usually cost between $ 800 and $ 1,500 . “ A lot of companies are doing this now because of the EPA ’ s push to inform people about the potential risks of radon ,” Dr . Bellamy says .
Myth 6 : Radon is a problem only in certain parts of the country .
There are regions of the country with more and less radon . But it ’ s almost impossible to determine the risk at a specific location . Radon levels are very local . They depend on uranium deposits , soil composition , atmospheric conditions , home construction , and other factors .
Many homes must be tested for radon before being sold . But for those who are unclear about their own home , Dr . Bellamy recommends that everyone take the risk seriously and check reputable online resources , such as the EPA and the National Cancer Institute websites , if they want to learn more . “ I think the EPA has a great message , which is very clear : ‘ Test . Fix . Save a life .’ ”
Learn more about radon from the EPA and National Cancer Institute .