January is National Radon Action Month.
For information, check the previous posts on this blog, see our website www.alliedradon.com, the Southern Illinois Radon Awareness Task Force website, www.silradon.org, or the Illinois Emergency Management Website http://radon.illinois.gov/. Free test kits can be requested at the IEMA website.
Remember, the only way to know whether your house has elevated radon levels is to do a radon test.
The radon induced lung cancer that you avoid by conducting a radon test and taking action to reduce elevated radon levels may be your own or a member of your family.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Monday, February 19, 2007
Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas created as part of the decay chain of uranium in the soil. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Long term exposure to elevated radon creates an increased risk of lung cancer. Illinois Emergency Management Agency and EPA recommend that radon levels in excess of 4.0 pCi/L be reduced to reduce lung cancer risk.
The only way to know what your radon level is to conduct a radon test.
The only way to know what your radon level is to conduct a radon test.
Radon Mis Information
The staff in our office deals with the public on a daily basis regarding the subject of radon. It is amazing the amount of mis-information that exists.
If you have a question that isn't addressed here, let me know.
Radon and vacant houses.
Probably the number one thing that we hear is that the radon was high in the house because the house was vacant when the test was conducted. The fact that the house is vacant has little if anything to do with the radon level. Radon has a 3.8 day half-life. The radon that is in the house is always naturally decaying and new radon is coming into the house. The amount of radon in the house does not increase because the house is vacant.
Radon and natural ventilation.
Opening the windows. The staff is also advised by the potential client that is the house had been ventilated before the test, the radon level would have not been elevated. After closing the basement windows, the radon levels build up in less than 12 hours. In order for ventilation to be effective, the basement needs to be ventilated on an ongoing basis. We have also seen situations where the windows upstairs were opened during a radon test. In some houses, this will elevate the radon level in the basement.
Erronous reasons why a house need not be tested for radon:
The neighbor tested and had a low level. I don't need to test.
The house doesn't have a sump pump. I don't need to test.
The house doesn't have a crawl space. I don't need to test.
The house has a walk out basement. I don't need to test.
The house has a concrete crawl. I don't need to test.
The fact is that any house can have elevated radon levels. The only way to know is to test.
If you have a question that isn't addressed here, let me know.
Radon and vacant houses.
Probably the number one thing that we hear is that the radon was high in the house because the house was vacant when the test was conducted. The fact that the house is vacant has little if anything to do with the radon level. Radon has a 3.8 day half-life. The radon that is in the house is always naturally decaying and new radon is coming into the house. The amount of radon in the house does not increase because the house is vacant.
Radon and natural ventilation.
Opening the windows. The staff is also advised by the potential client that is the house had been ventilated before the test, the radon level would have not been elevated. After closing the basement windows, the radon levels build up in less than 12 hours. In order for ventilation to be effective, the basement needs to be ventilated on an ongoing basis. We have also seen situations where the windows upstairs were opened during a radon test. In some houses, this will elevate the radon level in the basement.
Erronous reasons why a house need not be tested for radon:
The neighbor tested and had a low level. I don't need to test.
The house doesn't have a sump pump. I don't need to test.
The house doesn't have a crawl space. I don't need to test.
The house has a walk out basement. I don't need to test.
The house has a concrete crawl. I don't need to test.
The fact is that any house can have elevated radon levels. The only way to know is to test.
Radon Websites
Here are some websites that contain useful radon information.
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
http://www.state.il.us/iema/radon/radon.htm
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/radon/
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists
http://aarst.org/
The Joe and Gloria Linnertz Story
http://www.kmov.com/health/asseenonnews4/stories/kmov_localnews_070119_radon.5894bf36.html
Cancer Survivors Against Radon
http://www.cansar.org/
Surgeon General Warning
http://www.epapsa.com/newradon/
EPA Public Service Announcements
http://www.epapsa.com/
DuPage Radon Contractors, Inc.
http://dupageradon.com/
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
http://www.state.il.us/iema/radon/radon.htm
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/radon/
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists
http://aarst.org/
The Joe and Gloria Linnertz Story
http://www.kmov.com/health/asseenonnews4/stories/kmov_localnews_070119_radon.5894bf36.html
Cancer Survivors Against Radon
http://www.cansar.org/
Surgeon General Warning
http://www.epapsa.com/newradon/
EPA Public Service Announcements
http://www.epapsa.com/
DuPage Radon Contractors, Inc.
http://dupageradon.com/
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