Radon: Should You Worry? (1214)

Recent publicity about radon has left many people with questions. We’ll try to address some of those questions for you now.

Should you worry about radon? The United States Surgeon General has said that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of radon gas can increase the risk of lung cancer. Cancer risks noted in news reports about radon are based on lifetime exposure. There are no other known health effects from radon.

Radon is an invisible, odorless gas, measured in picocuries or liters of air. There is no accepted safe exposure level. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you take action if initial tests reveal levels of 4 picocuries or above.

How can you tell if your house has radon? A few people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have found this invisible, odorless gas at levels above the EPA’s action level of 4 picocuries in their homes. It is hard to predict which houses will have high levels of radon. Levels vary within counties and within neighborhoods.

The only way to know about radon levels in a particular home is to conduct a test.

Radon levels can change over time due to weather and others factors. This means that tests should determine the average levels of radon for several days. The most common way to do this is with a test kit containing a small amount of specially prepared charcoal. The test exposes the charcoal to the air in the home for several days. During this time it absorbs radon gas. You then seal the device containing the charcoal and send it to a laboratory. Radon levels are usually higher during the winter heating season, so you should conduct the test during this time. Put the test kit in the basement (or the lowest portion of the building, if there is no basement).

Charcoal tests are usually used as a screening test. They are quick and tell you if you need further testing. Since radon levels in a home can vary from day to day, a simple charcoal test may not be sufficient to screen a home. Two or three such tests, done at different times, are usually recommended. If a charcoal test shows a radon level of 4 picocuries or above, your house needs further testing. You should use a long-term test known as an alpha track test. Alpha track tests are intended to measure the typical radon exposure you experience while living in the home. Place an alpha track follow-up test in the living area of your home. Alpha track detectors are easy to use and only slightly more expensive than charcoal test kits. They measure radon for several months at a time to give a more reliable idea of annual exposure levels.

You should only consider remedies to reduce radon in your home if the follow-up test confirms high levels of radon.

If your house does have radon, will it cost a lot to get rid of it? Usually, you can reduce radon levels to below 4 picocuries for less than $2,000. Contractors use special techniques to seal cracks and penetrations in basement walls and floors. They cover exposed earth in crawl spaces and basements, cover sump well openings, and ventilate under the basement floor slab. They will then conduct another radon test to make sure the improvements were effective.

If you plan to buy a house, what can you do to protect yourself from possible radon problems? In most cases a high radon test should not cause you to reject an otherwise suitable house. You can fix radon problems for the price of a new furnace or roof. If you are concerned, have part of the purchase price set aside at the time of sale, pending test results.

For information about test kits and a list of radon contractors in Pennsylvania, contact the State Radon Hotline at 1-800-237-2366.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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