The average global outdoor radon level varies between 5-15 Bq/m3, equal to 0.135-0.405 pCi/L. For every 99.9 Bq/m3, or every 2.7 pCI/L increase in long term radon exposure, lung cancer risk rises 16% 4. The thing to remember is that the lower the level, the lower the risk.
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What is an unhealthy amount of radon?
4 pCi/LThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that measurements of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher are considered dangerous levels. This radon level is largely unsafe and is 10 times higher² than the average outdoor air levels.
What is the highest acceptable radon level?
4.0 pCi/LFAQs: Acceptable Radon Levels. What constitutes an acceptable or safe radon level? According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0.
How worried should I be about radon?
You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.
Should I walk away from a house with radon?
Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. "You should definitely take it seriously but you really don't need to walk away from the home. It's actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it's not that expensive," Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said.
How long does it take for radon to affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.
Do air purifiers help with radon?
Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.
Which states have the most radon?
Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:Alaska (10.7)South Dakota (9.6)Pennsylvania (8.6)Ohio (7.8)Washington (7.5)Kentucky (7.4)Montana (7.4)Idaho (7.3)More items...•
How do you reduce radon in a home?
Improving indoor ventilation One of the simplest ways to dilute moderate levels of radon is to increase the indoor ventilation by installing wall vents or window trickle vents. This can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 50%.
What causes radon to spike?
Weather – changing temperatures and wind can affect the pressure difference between indoor air and ground air. This is important because radon traditionally leaks into the house from ground air. If temperature differences and wind cause negative pressure in the house, indoor radon levels are likely to increase.
Does opening windows get rid of radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Homes tend to have lower air pressure than their surroundings, which draws radon into the basement.
What are symptoms of radon poisoning?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.Persistent cough.Hoarseness.Wheezing.Shortness of breath.Coughing up blood.Chest pain.Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.Loss of appetite.More items...
How do you reduce radon levels in the winter?
Wrapping up in a blanket inside, and wearing a cap outside. We prevent the cold air from chilling us by protecting our bodies with blankets and caps. A similar effect happens with radon levels during winter. Snow acts as a blanket for the ground, preventing radon from seeping out and trapping the gas underneath.
What should my radon meter read?
The readout on the manometer should be between 0.5in – 1.75in. In most cases these are acceptable levels indicating, your system is operating correct. When your Radon system is shut off the fluid should rest at zero if it does not then your manometer is low on fluid.
Where are the highest radon levels in the US?
Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:Alaska (10.7)South Dakota (9.6)Pennsylvania (8.6)Ohio (7.8)Washington (7.5)Kentucky (7.4)Montana (7.4)Idaho (7.3)More items...•
Where are radon levels highest in a house?
Radon levels are often highest in the lowest part of a home or building, so testing in the basement or first floor is a good place to start. Fix your home if a test shows elevated radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L. Find a certified contractor, get cost estimates and fix spaces with an elevated radon level.
How do you lower radon levels in a home?
Other Ways to Reduce RadonIncrease air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. ... Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
What is the acceptable level of radon gas?
What is an acceptable level of radon gas? Radon Act 51 passed by Congress set the natural outdoor level of radon gas (0.4 pCi/L) as the target radon level for indoor radon levels. Unfortunately two-thirds of all homes exceed this level. The US EPA was tasked with setting practical guidelines and recommendations for the nation.
What is the radon level in the air?
Depending on your geographic location, the radon levels of the air you breathe outside of your home may be as high as 0.75 pCi/L.
What is the EPA action level for radon?
The US EPA was tasked with setting practical guidelines and recommendations for the nation. To this end, the US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. At or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas.
Is radon gas safe?
This is the simpler of the two questions. A safe level of radon gas is no radon gas. Radon gas is a carcinogen which causes lung cancer. The US EPA has put it plainly, stating, “Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.” The average person receives a higher dose of radiation from the radon levels in their home than from their combined exposure to all other radiation sources, natural or man-made. Radon gas is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the radioactive decay of Uranium in the soil. Depending on your geographic location, the radon levels of the air you breathe outside of your home may be as high as 0.75 pCi/L. The national average of outside radon levels is 0.4 pCi/L and it is estimated by the National Academy of Sciences that outdoor radon levels cause approximately 800 of the 21,000 radon induced lung cancer deaths in the US each year. Your risk of lung cancer increases substantially with exposure to higher radon levels. Lung cancer risk rises 16% per 2.7 pCi/L increase in radon exposure. World Health Organization, 2009 studies show that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. However, the absolute numbers of radon-induced lung cancers are much larger in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, due to a strong combined effect of smoking and radon.
Can you breathe radon?
You have no choice but to breathe the air in your home. A simple and inexpensive radon test can give you the information you need to make an informed decision about what level of radon gas exposure is acceptable to you. Your Test Results.
Is radon a natural or man made gas?
The average person receives a higher dose of radiation from the radon levels in their home than from their combined exposure to all other radiation sources, natural or man-made . Radon gas is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the radioactive decay ...
Can radon cause lung cancer?
World Health Organization, 2009 studies show that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. However, the absolute numbers of radon-induced lung cancers are much larger in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, due to a strong combined effect of smoking and radon.
What are the two studies that confirm the radon health risks?
Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miners who breathed radon for a period of years.
Who issued the Advisory on Radon?
(January 13, 2005) U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, issues a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air. The Chief Physician urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they might be breathing.
How many people die from lung cancer from smoking?
For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer.
What is the survival rate of lung cancer?
Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors.
Is radon a serious health problem?
This report by the National Academy of Sciences (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.
Who is the author of the Iowa radon study?
Read the "Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study " by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.
Is radon a cancer?
A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.
What is the recommended radon level for a home?
EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.
What is the average radon level in the air?
The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.
What is the EPA action level for radon?
Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of ...
What Level of Radon is Safe?
There is no safe level of radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that damages the cells that line your lungs. Long-term exposure can lead to lung cancer. The lower your radon levels are, the better off you and your loved ones will be.
What is the recommended radon level?
The EPAstrongly recommends radon mitigation if your radon levels are above 4 pCi/L, though radon levels below 4 still pose a health risk. They recommend you consider mitigation if your radon levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L. They are quick to point out that there is no known safe level of radon.
What is the equivalent of a family radon level?
A radon level of 10 pCi/L is the equivalent of your family:
What is the average radon level in Minnesota?
Average Radon Level in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the average Minnesota home has a radon level of 4.5 pCi/L. That means that the average Minnesota family has an exposure that is equal to smoking about 9 cigarettes per day or receiving 200 chest X-rays per year.
How much radon is in a home in Minnesota?
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the average Minnesota home has a radon level of 4.5 pCi/L. That means that the average Minnesota family has an exposure that is equal to smoking about 9 cigarettes per day or receiving 200 chest X-rays per year.
What does a radon level of 2 mean?
What do Radon Levels Mean? A radon level of 2 pCi/L is the equivalent of your family: A radon level of 4 pCi/L is the equivalent of your family: A radon level of 10 pCi/L is the equivalent of your family: As your radon levels increase, so does your risk.
Does sealing gaps help with radon?
Did you know that sealing gaps and cracks open to the soil is an important aspect of radon mitigation? Not only does sealing increase the effectiveness of a system, but it can also save you money on operating costs over time. Let’s take a look at the impact that sealing can have on radon mitigation….
What is the average pCi/L of radon?
This is a relatively low radon level. For reference, 0.4 pCi/L is the average level of natural outdoor radon as determined by Congress’s Radon Act 51.
How much radon is in a basement?
It is also helpful to know that radon levels reduce by about in half each floor up the building. In other words, a basement that measures a radon level of 16 pCi/L is likely to exhibit about a level of8 pCi/L on the first floor, and about a 4 pCi/L on the third floor.
Why do we use pico curies in radon testing?
It measures on a much higher scale than what is initially considered dangerous to human health, so we use pico-Curies in radon testing to narrow the scale to human levels and aid in the understanding of radon test results. Per pico-Curie, each decay of radium produces a micro-explosion that damages living tissue.
What is a 4.0 pCi/L?
Above 4.0 pCi/L, you are putting yourself at unusually high risk for lung damage and cancer. This levels is roughly the same lung cancer exposure risk as smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day. In almost all situations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends immediate installation of a radon mitigation system to lower your risk. If you are testing radon in conjunction with the sale of the building, 4.0 is typically used as the threshold radon level.
What is the radon mitigation level?
When reading your radon test results, it is worth noting that even though EPA indicates 4.0 pCi/L, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mitigation at or over 2.7 pCi/L. If you are testing for you own safety, as opposed to selling the building, you may consider mitigation when you are in this range.
Does laying down cause radon?
Another is the actual height of your nose above the floor while in that area. Anyone who sits or lays down for extended periods while in those areas will receive a higher radon dose than those standing. Children, especially crawling children, are more affected because of the proximity of their noses to the floor.
Does radium damage living tissue?
Per pico-Curie, each decay of radium produces a micro-explosion that damages living tissue. While we cannot see these radioactive reactions happening with our eyes, they affect our body’s cells, especially those of the lungs. Long-term exposure has been shown to increase risk of lung cancer.
How to reduce radon in house?
There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home (called radon mitigation), but the one most used has a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil suction radon reduction system, does not require major changes to your home.
Where is radon released?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released in the air from rocks and soil. It can be found in the air outside and can get inside buildings and homes, where it can build up. There is no known safe level of radon. Aiming for the lowest radon level you can achieve in your home will reduce your risk of harmful health effects, including lung cancer.
Who can fix radon in my home?
You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. A qualified contractor can identify the radon problem in your home and recommend the right radon reduction method. Check with your state radon office. for names of qualified or state certified radon contractors in your area.
