Radon has no smell, cannot be seen, and may take years to do any harm. It is a radioactive gas released naturally from rocks, soil and water, and it gets into homes and other buildings through the soil, through small cracks or holes in the foundation, or in water from a well. Indoors it can build up in the air. Breathed in, its radioactive decay products can lodge in the lungs, and over time they raise the risk of lung cancer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths after smoking. The two compound each other: people who smoke and are exposed to radon have a 10 times greater risk of lung cancer from it than people exposed to the same levels who do not smoke.
How radon gets into a house: through the soil, the bedrock and the groundwater beneath it. CDC.
Test — it is the only way to know
Testing is the only way to know whether a home's radon level is high. Test a home:
- if it has never been tested, or its levels are unknown;
- when buying or selling it;
- before and after renovations, especially after repairs meant to reduce radon;
- before a change that has someone spending more time on a lower floor — turning a basement into a bedroom, for example.
You can buy a test kit at a hardware store and do it yourself, or hire a radon tester. Your state radon office has local information and a list of qualified testers.
When to fix it
The EPA recommends installing a radon reduction system — also called a mitigation system — when the level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or higher. A picocurie is a common unit for the amount of radioactivity. Consider a licensed professional to install it; the EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon covers the options.
Other things that help
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development suggests further steps:
| Step | Worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Increase air flow with open windows, fans and vents | Natural ventilation is only a temporary fix |
| Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk or other materials made for it | Your state radon office can list qualified contractors — and test again afterward to be sure it worked |
| Ask about radon-resistant construction when buying a new home | It is almost always cheaper and easier to build in than to add later |
| Stop smoking — free help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW | Smoking greatly increases the lung cancer risk from radon |
For more on testing, the National Radon Hotline is 1-800-SOS-RADON. CDC marks Radon Awareness Week each January.
Sources
Based on "Radon and Your Health," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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