For residents of New York State, it’s a good idea to check your home for radon, a radioactive gas known to cause lung cancer.
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rock and soil, an abundant metal in bedrock. As it decays, it produces a gas that rises from soil. According to the New York State Department of Health, years of exposure to high levels of Radon gas trapped inside your home can cause cancer.
So what should you do?
Have your home tested for Radon Gas.
It’s worth testing for radon because, 1. it’s easy to test for 2. it’s easy to mitigate and 3. Cancer is a devastating disease.
It is recommended to test during a time of the year when all of the windows and doors are closed – like winter months.
What is radon?
Radon is odorless, tasteless and invisible. Exposure to radon does not produce symptoms. In the air, radon is unstable and breaks down into other products. We inhale and exhale radon gas but radon decay particles stay in the lungs. Over time, these particles can cause damage to cells, which can mutate and cause lung cancer.
If radon is in your home at high concentration levels, brought in through the natural vacuum between the soil and the foundation of your home, it becomes a Class A carcinogen. This poses a significant risk for lung cancer similar to cigarette smoking.
Does radon cause cancer? Check your home for radon.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates, and has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer. There are an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year due to radon.
“We know it causes cancer because of the studies on miners,” “NIOSH officials were able to see the difference in lung cancer risks between those miners working in uranium mines and those who did not, and that’s what clued them into radon exposure as a risk for lung cancer.”
The study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) looked at 3,238 White uranium miners and 757 mainly Navajo miners located in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah who’d completed a medical exam between 1950 and 1960 and had been exposed to high levels of radon gas. For White miners, the study expected to find about 64 deaths based on the states’ death rates for men. However, it found 371 — six times more than expected. And non-white uranium miners had a lung cancer death rate three times that of the states’ death rates.
The study provided important information about how much radon exposure causes lung cancer.
What are acceptable levels of radon?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The national indoor average is about 1.3 pCi/L, with an outdoor level of about 0.4 pCi/L.
The EPA recommends radon mitigation when levels exceed 4 pCi/L).
The New York State Department of Health recommends testing for radon during the buying/selling of a home, after doing major renovations, and every two to five years depending on previous radon level readings.
What is radon testing?
There are two types of radon tests. Long-term radon detectors test over a 3-12 month period. While short-term radon kits test over a 48-72 hour period.
Recommendation is to start with a short-term test to determine what potential radon risk may exist in a home. If that test shows 4 pCi/L or higher, it’s recommended to follow up with a subsequent test before any radon mitigation is done. This Second test can be either a short or long term test.
Ideally, all doors and windows should be closed when testing your home for radon. That’s why January (National Radon Action Month)/ February is a great time to test.
Radon testing should be done every few years regardless of prior results. Check your home for Radon!
The Map of Radon Zones shows were high levels of radon are found throughout New York State, but it should not be used to determine if individual homes need to be tested. No matter where you live, test your home for radon — it’s easy and inexpensive. Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher (Zone 1). Consider fixing if your level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L (Zone 2). Source: EPA.gov.
What do I do if my results show unsafe radon levels?
Don’t panic. If your first test shows high results, then do another short-term or long-term test to verify the findings. The additional time it will take to do a long-term test will not result in measurable increased risk to radon exposure. Long-term test results give a more representative picture of radon levels because it factors in the influences of changing temperatures and barometric pressure, according to the state.
If short-term test results are close to the 4 pCi/L mitigation threshold, a long-term test is recommended. However, according to the state, a short-term test may be used to confirm an earlier test with very high levels of radon.
If the second results are similar to the first (4 pCi/L or higher), mitigation should be considered. The state also recommends that people with high levels of radon who also get their water from a private well, test the water for radon. Radon water testing kits are readily available online and in most home improvement stores.
How do I get rid of radon?
Radon gas comes from the soil and leaks through cracks in a home’s foundation. Nevertheless, there are several methods for capturing the gas and funneling it outdoors.
Radon mitigation systems work by overpowering the natural vacuum under the home and providing an alternative route for radon. Sealing cracks in the foundation or around piping will not lower radon levels and mitigate the problem.
The cost is estimated to be $500 to $2,500 to install a radon mitigation system . This depends on the type of system and design of the home, according to NYSDH. Some federal programs might be able to help fund radon reduction in homes for limited-income families.
Can I mitigate radon myself?
It is advisable to use a state-certified radon mitigation system installer who has proper training to mitigate radon. However, if you have home-improvement skills, you may be able to install mitigation yourself. Accordingly, talk with your state radon office first for appropriate training and DIY manuals.
The type of foundation in your home determines what radon mitigation is necessary. Do you have a basement or a crawl space? Or maybe your home is “slab-on-grade,” meaning its foundation sits directly on the ground.
Radon mitigation systems for homes with basements or slab-on-grade foundations redirect the radon gas from below the foundation to the outside via a vent pipe and a radon fan.
Cover he earth floor in crawl spaces with a high-density plastic sheet. Once covered, install a vent pipe and fan to draw the radon from under the sheet and vent it outside.
What if I have high levels of radon in my well water too?
Radon in your water poses an inhalation risk and a small ingestion risk. Radon in water released into the air, like with showering, poses a greater cancer risk than from drinking the water, according to the EPA.
Water can be treated for radon before it enters the home or at the tap. You can get more detailed information through the EPA.
Is radon testing necessary?
An estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year due to radon.
“It’s such an easy thing to take care of! Check your home for Radon.”
Scott Minunni
716.867.1239
scott.minunni@encinspectionservices.com
