Date Published: 08/09/2006 [Source]
Radon has been lurking in the ground for centuries, but only recently has it been recognized as an environmental danger.
In 1984, a Pennsylvania construction engineer working on the site of a new nuclear power station became concerned when his body continued to trigger workplace detectors-not when he was leaving work but as soon as he arrived each day. To everyone's surprise, it was found that he was being contaminated not at work but at home by high levels of radon.
A gas produced by the natural decay of uranium, radon is widespread on the surface of the earth and now recognized as a serious environmental threat by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Lung Association and most other health organizations.
The second leading cause of lung cancer, radon is believed to be responsible for about 14,000 deaths a year.
The radon levels in the Pennsylvania engineer's home were several thousand times that found in the average American building. Any exposure, however, is considered harmful, particularly if it's combined with other risks such as exposure to tobacco smoke or industrial carcinogens.
The air outside normally has about 0.4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The same amount breathed all day in a building is more hazardous, and, in fact, the average home has a much higher level - 1.25 pCi/L.
The U.S. Congress in 1988 set a long-term goal of reducing radon levels in homes to no more than the outdoor level.
Although it's difficult to be concerned about a substance you can't see, taste or smell, the danger of radon has been confirmed through extensive research.
The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Medical Association recommend that every home be tested for radon. And if the level exceeds 4 pCi/L, prompt steps should be taken to reduce the hazard.
Inexpensive do-it-yourself tests are available by mail order or at many retail outlets. Look on the label to be assured the test kit is "qualified" or state-certified. You can also hire a state-certified contractor to test and, if necessary, make changes.
For a short-term test, it's necessary to close all windows and doors for 12 hours before and then for two to three days during testing. When completed, the test is mailed to a lab for analysis.
If the test reveals a radon level of 4 pCi/L or higher, then a repeat test should be performed -either another short-term test or a long-term test, which remains in your home for more than 90 days.
The long-term test gives a better picture of radon levels throughout the year, but if the first test is significantly higher than the recommended level, then the follow-up test should be a short-term one so there's no delay in fixing the problem.
The cost of repairing a radon problem is $500 to $2,500. Repair usually means sealing cracks in the foundation and installing a ventilation system. In most cases, radon reduction systems work quite well, often cutting the exposure in half or even by as much as 99 percent.
The U.S. Surgeon General recommends testing every two years and any time you make structural changes or occupy a previously unused level of your home.
Even if you've lived with radon in your home for many years, it's never too late to reduce your exposure. If you smoke, of course, or have been exposed to occupational pollutants, your risk is multiplied.
The sooner you take action, the better.