Yes. There are some areas of Oregon that have been found to have higher radon levels. NW Oregon, including the Columbia Gorge and Willamette River Valley, tends to be the areas of greatest known concern for radon exposure.
When is radon testing needed?
“Testing your home for radon is simple and should be done when all your doors and windows are closed,” said Chrystine Kelly, Radon program manager for CDPHE, in a Jan. 4 press release. “That’s why January is a great time to test, during National Radon Action Month .”
Do I have radon in my home?
Radon is naturally found in outdoor air at very low levels and some radon will always be in your indoor air. According to EPA, the average radon level in American homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. to install a radon reduction system if your radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air.
Is there radon gas in your home?
Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. Most radon exposure occurs inside homes, schools and workplaces. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
How is radon good for You?
“Radon is a health hazard in your home,” proclaimed the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, which ran an Ad Council TV spot a few years ago showing children playing in a comfortable middle‐class living room who, exposed to radon, suddenly turned into skeletons.
Does Oregon have high levels of radon?
Oregon's areas of highest risk for radon are in Clatskanie, Columbia City, Dundee, Scappoose, Banks, and North Plains, as well as Boring, Parkdale, Milton-Freewater and La Grande, according to the data published on the Oregon Radon Awareness Program website.
Is radon testing necessary in Oregon?
Currently, radon testing is not required for real estate transactions under Oregon law. It is still a good idea to test for radon for the health of the people who live there. If your radon concern is related to a real estate transaction, you may be interested in EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon (pdf).
Is radon common in Portland?
According to the Oregon Health Authority's 2020 Radon Risk Map, a large area of Portland including all of Northeast Portland is at a high risk for radon exposure. In total, 11 Portland zip codes are in the red zone for radon.
What states have the most radon in homes?
Below are the top five states with the greatest radon levels based on data from several sources.Alaska: 10.7 pCi/L. ... South Dakota: 9.6 pCi/L. ... Pennsylvania: 8.6 pCi/L. ... Ohio: 7.8 pCi/L. ... Washington: 7.5 pCi/L.
Is radon common in Oregon?
According to the 2017 data, much of the state is at some risk of at least moderately high radon levels, particularly in northwest, central and northeastern Oregon. Within these regions are pockets where high radon levels are common, such as the Portland metro, Clatskanie and La Grande areas.
What are the 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...
Why does Portland have high radon levels?
“In the Portland metropolitan area, a lot of the rocks and soil underneath the Willamette Valley were carried down from parts of Idaho and Montana and the rocks that came from there are contributing to the higher radon levels that we're experiencing in the Portland area,” said Curtis Cude with the Oregon Health ...
Where is radon most prevalent?
Radon gas is a ubiquitous element found in rock and soil. The burning of coal and other fossil fuels also releases radon. When radon escapes from soil or is discharged from emission stacks to the outdoor air, it is diluted to levels that are normally, but not always, lower than indoor air.
Is radon testing necessary?
PHE recommends that you should do a 3 month radon test in your new home during the first year of occupation as it is not guaranteed that your radon level will be less than the Action Level.
What state has lowest radon levels?
HawaiiHawaii has the lowest radon levels of all 50 states, with an average level of 0 pCi/L....Here are the 10 states with the highest 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...
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.
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.
Is radon testing really necessary?
The risk of lung cancer from radon gas exposure is significant but preventable. The only way to know your radon level is to test and if high levels are found take action to reduce. The bar chart illustrates how radon-induced lung cancer compares to other health concerns.
How accurate are 2 day radon tests?
"Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 December 2019.
What is considered long term exposure to radon?
Radon Risk If You Have Never SmokedRadon LevelIf 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*...20 pCi/LAbout 36 people could get lung cancer10 pCi/LAbout 18 people could get lung cancer8 pCi/LAbout 15 people could get lung cancer4 pCi/LAbout 7 people could get lung cancer4 more rows•May 10, 2022
How do you test for radon in your home?
You place one in the living room and one in the main bedroom (the rooms in the home where you and your family spend most of your time) and leave them for three months. Radon detectors are passive detectors, this means that they collect radon automatically, so they simply need to be placed in your home.
Which area of Oregon has the highest radon levels?
There are some areas of Oregon that have been found to have higher radon levels. NW Oregon, including the Columbia Gorge and Willamette River Valley, tends to be the areas of greatest known concern for radon exposure.
When to hire radon testing company in Oregon?
Radon measurement (testing) companies are often hired when the results are needed quickly (like in the 10-day inspection period of a home sale). A list of radon Measurement Companies in Oregon is on our website
How to fix radon in a home?
We recommend that you consider the following: 1 Use a certified or qualified radon mitigation professional. You can find a list of qualified professionals here. 2 Choose a contractor to fix a radon problem just as you would choose someone to do other home repairs - get estimates and ask for/check references. Consider knowledge, experience, pricing and the mitigation techniques they plan to use. 3 Ask if they can guarantee (in a written contract) that the radon in your home will be reduced to a certain level.
What is enhabit radon?
Enhabit, a non-profit home renewal organization, offers its services, including the financing of radon mitigation systems, to most of Oregon. Learn more about their services at Enhabit's Clean & Safe Air web page. Call Enhabit direct at 1-855-870-0049 to see if they do work in your area of Oregon.
What is the EPA recommended action level for radon?
Above all, the goal of radon reduction is risk reduction. To find our more on why you should test and why 4.0 pCi/L is the EPA recommended action level, go to National Radon Program Services webpage.
How does radon gas move?
Radon gas moves up through the soil and can be drawn into your home. Once inside, radon becomes trapped and can build up to unsafe levels. As you inhale radon gas, small particles get trapped in your lungs and release tiny bursts of energy (radiation) called alpha particles.
What is the radon level in a home?
The World Health Organization recommend that a home be mitigated when its confirmed radon level is 2.7 pCi/L or above. Above all, the goal of radon reduction is risk reduction.
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or taste. It is found everywhere in the world. Uranium naturally decays into radium that further breaks down into radon gas.
How does radon affect lung cancer?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. If you live in a home with high levels of radon, smoking raises your risk of lung cancer by 10 times. You can help prevent lung cancer by quitting smoking. There are many different ways to quit. The Oregon Quit Line can help you make a plan that works for you.
How does radon enter your home?
Some of the ways include: Cracks in solid floors. Construction joints. Cracks in walls. Gaps in suspended floors. Gaps around pipes.
Can radon cause cancer?
There are no immediate symptoms from radon exposure. As radon naturally decays, it produces radioactive particles that get stuck in your lungs when you breathe. This causes damage to lung tissue and can lead to lung cancer after a prolonged period of time.
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or taste. It is found everywhere in the world. Uranium naturally decays into radium that further breaks down into radon gas.
What is the best time to test for radon?
Radon Risk Map - Updated January 2020#N#The updated Radon Risk Map shows much of the state at risk#N#The best time to test for radon is in the winter months when levels are expected to be at their highest#N#All homes are advised to test, regardless of geographic region risk assigned 1 The updated Radon Risk Map shows much of the state at risk 2 The best time to test for radon is in the winter months when levels are expected to be at their highest 3 All homes are advised to test, regardless of geographic region risk assigned
Which counties in Oregon require radon mitigation?
The following Oregon counties require radon resistent new construction (RRNC): Baker, Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill counties. The Appendix F: Radon Control Methods (pdf) details the RRNC radon mitigation requirements for each of these counties. For training on these requirements, see the Radon Training page.
What is radon mitigation?
A radon mitigation system is designed to reduce radon concentrations in the indoor air of a building. The kind of radon mitigation system that is most effective varies depending on the construction and building conditions of your home, school, or workplace.
What is enhabit radon?
Enhabit, a non-profit home renewal organization, offers the financing of radon mitigation systems to most of Oregon. Learn more about their services at Enhabit's Clean & Safe Air webpage or call 1-855-870-0049.
Does Oregon have radon mitigation?
The cost will depend on the size and design of your home, and which radon reduction methods are needed. At this time, the State of Oregon does not have or offer financial assistance to homeowners for radon mitigation.
Is radon mitigation a qualified medical expense?
Some carriers of employee Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) now consider radon mitigation as a qualified medical expense; check with your HAS about this possibility for you.
Where is radon most prevalent in Oregon?
Oregon’s areas of highest risk for radon are in Clatskanie, Columbia City, Dundee, Scappoose, Banks, and North Plains, as well as Boring, Parkdale, Milton-Freewater and La Grande, according to the data published on the Oregon Radon Awareness Program website.
Where is radon high in Oregon?
(KTVZ) -- New Oregon radon data show that many regions of the state are at moderate risk of having high radon levels, with several pockets of high-risk areas around the Willamette Valley , and in Eastern and Southern Oregon, officials said Thursday.
How to reduce radon levels in home?
People can take steps to reduce their exposure to radon by testing their homes for radon and, if necessary, hiring a professional to reduce it to a safe level. The best time to test is during the heating season, when the windows and doors are closed up tight. Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive.
Can radon be fixed?
Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed. Radon is odorless, tasteless and invisible.
Is radon a cause of lung cancer?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after cigarette smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. There are many cities and ZIP codes in the state for which the Radon Program has little to no data.