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What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally
occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from deposits of uranium in
soil, rock, and water. It is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air,
but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful, especially at elevated
levels. Radon is a radioactive decay product of radium, which is
itself a decay product of uranium. Uranium and radium are both
common elements in soil.
Where
is radon found?
The primary source of high levels of radon in homes is the surrounding
soil. Radon has been found in elevated levels in homes in every
state, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that
as many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. have elevated radon levels.
How does
radon get into my house?
Warm air rises. When this happens in your home, it creates a vacuum
in the lower areas of the house. Nature hates a vacuum, so something
must rush in to fill it. In the case of your home, air seeps in from
the soil around and under the house, and some air is sucked in through
openings (cracks, doors, windows) on the lower levels. Radon gas
enters the same way air and other soil gases enter the home; through
cracks in the foundation floor or walls, hollow-block walls, and openings
around floor drains, pipes and sump pumps.
What
are the health effects of radon?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
Radon can be inhaled into the lungs, where it undergoes radioactive decay.
As it decays, radon releases tiny bursts of energy called alpha particles,
which can harm sensitive lung tissue by damaging the DNA. This
damaged DNA can lead to lung cancer.
How
is radon measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of
radioactivity. The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommend that homes with radon levels 4.0 pCi/L, or greater,
be fixed.
How
do I find out if my house has elevated levels of radon?
Radon testing can identify if elevated radon levels exist. The EPA
has established protocols for this testing and a number of test methods
may be employed based upon initial findings. Generally, a simple
canister test can reveal if your house has elevated readings. If
readings are above acceptable limits, further verification and/or testing
is recommended.
Can
my house be fixed if it has elevated radon levels?
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes.
Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of
most approaches to radon reduction, however, sealing by itself may not be
sufficient to reduce radon levels consistently. In other instances,
depressurization systems employing pipe vents (natural-draft and/or fans)
may be applied. Other options may be available base on your home's
construction and level of reduction required.
If
I don't have a basement, can I still have a radon problem?
Radon can seep in from soil anywhere around or under a home, regardless of
whether your home has a basement, crawl space, or is built slab-on-grade.
The U.S. EPA and Surgeon General recommend radon testing for all types of
homes.
Texas
is not in an area designated as a high radon zone. Do I still need
to test?
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geologic Survey conducted surveys of radon
potential areas across the United States. They broke the country
down into three zones according to their potential for high indoor radon
levels, with Zone 1 having the highest radon potential. It is true
that homes in Zones 1 and 2 have a statistically higher chance of having
elevated radon levels. However, the fact is that elevated levels of
radon have been found in homes in all fifty states. The radon level
in your home depends on the geology under and near your home. The
only way to know for sure, and to protect your family from radon, is to
test your home.
My
neighbors have tested their home and don't have high levels so why should
I test?
Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same
street. It is nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of
geologic soil deposits and the extent to which soil gasses will seep into
and be retained by a specific house. The only way to know whether
radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your family
from radon, is to test.
Is
there proof that radon is a serious health problem?
The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before
have we had such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure to
elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. In February
of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented the findings of
their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The
Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by
NAS is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor
radon. The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of
lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem.
The study fully supports the U.S. EPA estimates stating that radon causes
between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
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