January is Radon Action month

January is Radon Action month

Radon is:

Colorless

Odorless

Tasteless

Chemically inert

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/where-can-i-find-more-information-about-radon-my-home

Caused by the natural radioactive decay of uranium. Radon gas is naturally released through the rock, soil, and water.

Why it’s a problem in our homes?

Homes sitting on top of the gas prevent its escape creating pressure elevating those exposure levels.

Radon may be caught in a pocket under the earth, when we build structures such as homes on top of these pockets an additional pressure is created and the only way for the gas to escape is through the home. However, because we are not able to detect radon with out a proper test these levels can build up in our homes exposing us to higher levels.

How to manage Radon?

The purpose of radon mitigation is to reduce radon concentration indoors.

We can’t get rid of Radon so we must mitigate it, providing a system to depressurize the gas.

How is Radon Measured?

Radon is Measured in picocurie or pCi. pCi is one trillion of a Curie. This measures the rate of radioactive decay of radon.

The recommended action level for radon is 4 pCi/L.

http://sosradon.org/Radon%20Basics

It is important to test your home more than once a year and at different times of the year. Your reading during the summer will likely be different than a reading in the winter because outside elements are different, creating different pressures.

Also, it is important not to rely on a neighbor’s reading and assume your home is the same. Next door neighbors can have very different readings.