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"A Citizen's Guide to
Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon"
This document was prepared by the U.S.
EPA, Indoor Environments Division (6609J), Washington, D.C. 20460
U.S. EPA 402-K-02-006, Revised May 2004
EPA Map of Radon Zones for New Jersey
EPA Recommends:
 | Test your home for radon -- it's
easy and inexpensive. |
| Fix your home if your radon level is
4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. |
| Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still
pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced. |
|
Radon is estimated to cause thousands
of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. |
 |
* Radon is estimated to cause
about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to
EPA's 2003
Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety
Council Reports. |
Go to top
Radon is a cancer-causing,
radioactive gas.
You can't see radon. And you can't
smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.
Radon is estimated to cause many
thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air
containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon
General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung
cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung
cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels,
your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over the
U.S.
Radon comes from the natural
(radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets
into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It
can get into any type of building - homes, offices, and schools -
and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are
most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend
most of your time.
You should test for radon.
Testing is the only way to know if
you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon
General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
EPA also recommends testing in schools.
Testing is inexpensive
and easy - it should only take a few minutes of your time. Millions
of Americans have already tested their homes for radon (see
How to Test Your Home).
You can fix a radon problem.
Radon reduction systems work and they
are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon
levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be
reduced to acceptable levels.
New homes can be built with
radon-resistant features.
Radon-resistant construction
techniques can be effective in preventing radon entry. When
installed properly and completely, these simple and inexpensive
techniques can help reduce indoor radon levels in homes. In
addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it
easier and less expensive to reduce radon levels further if these
passive techniques don't reduce radon levels to below 4 pCi/L.
Every new home should be tested after occupancy, even if it was
built radon-resistant. If radon levels are still in excess of 4
pCi/L, the passive system should be activated by having
a qualified
mitigator install a vent fan. For more explanation of radon
resistant construction techniques, refer to EPA publication,
Building
Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant
Homes (see EPA Publications).
Go to top
 Radon
is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium
that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the
ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other
holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can
build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old
homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without
basements.
Radon from soil gas is the main cause
of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well
water (see "Radon in Water" below). In a
small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon,
too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by
themselves.
|
RADON GETS IN THROUGH:
1. Cracks in solid floors
2. Construction joints
3. Cracks in walls
4. Gaps in suspended floors
5. Gaps around service pipes
6. Cavities inside walls
7. The water supply |
 |
Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the
U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of
radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your
state radon office for general information
about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in
some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know about
your home is to test.
Radon can also be a problem in
schools and workplaces. Ask your state radon
office about radon problems in schools, daycare and childcare
facilities, and workplaces in your area.
Go to top
You can't see radon, but
it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home.
All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should
only take a few minutes of your time.
The amount of radon in
the air is measured in "picoCuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L."
Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels (WL) rather
than picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) (4 pCi/L equals to 0.016 WL).
There are many kinds of low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits
you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail
outlets. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you
can hire a
qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first
contact your
state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers.
You can also contact a private radon proficiency program for lists
of privately certified radon professionals serving your area. For
links and information, visit
www.epa.gov/radon/proficiency.html .
There are Two General
Ways to Test for Radon:
SHORT-TERM TESTING:
 The
quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests
remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the
device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha track," "electret ion chamber,"
"continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid scintillation" detectors
are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels
tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test
is less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round
average radon level. If you need results quickly, however, a
short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to
decide whether to fix your home (see Home Sales).
LONG-TERM TESTING:
Long-term tests remain in your home
for more than 90 days. "Alpha track" and "electret" detectors are
commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give
you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round
average radon level than a short-term test.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions
that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test,
close your windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as
possible during the test. Heating and air-conditioning system fans
that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or other
machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a
radon-reduction system or small exhaust fans operating only for
short periods of time may run during the test. If you are doing a
short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your
windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before beginning
the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting just
2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually
high winds. The test kit should be placed in the lowest lived-in
level of the home (for example, the basement if it is frequently
used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is
used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but
not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20 inches above
the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed - away from
drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit
in place for as long as the package says. Once you've finished the
test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the
package right away for analysis. You should receive your test
results within a few weeks.
|
EPA Recommends the Following
Testing Steps: |
|
Step 1. |
Take a short-term test. If your
result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be
sure. |
|
Step 2. |
Follow up with either a long-term
test or a second short-term test:
| For a better understanding of
your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.
|
| If you need results quickly,
take a second short-term test. |
The higher your initial short-term
test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a
short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first
short-term test result is more than twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action
level, you should take a second short-term test immediately.
|
|
Step 3.
|
If you followed up with a long-term
test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or
more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The
higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that
you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the
average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see
also Home Sales)
 |
Go to
top
 The
average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and
about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. The
U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be
no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet
technologically achievable in all cases, most homes today can
be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.
Sometimes short-term
tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4
pCi/L. This can happen when your results are close to 4 pCi/L. For
example, if the average of your two short-term test results is 4.1
pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average is
somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon
exposure carries some risk - no level of radon is safe. Even radon
levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk of
lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
If your living patterns
change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a
basement) you should retest your home on that level.
Even if your test result
is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again sometime in the future.
Go to
top
|
More and more,
home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before
they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen
quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and
other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW
and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them.
Fix a problem if it exists so it won't complicate your home
sale. If you are planning to move, call your
state radon office for EPA's pamphlet
"Home
Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some
common questions. You can also use the results of two
short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches apart) to
decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
| Buyers often ask if a home
has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
|
| Buyers frequently want tests
made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your
state radon office can assist you in
identifying
a
qualified tester.
|
| Buyers might want to know
the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they
plan to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test.
|
Today many homes
are built to prevent radon from coming in. Your state or local
area may require these radon-resistant construction features.
If you are buying or renting a new home, ask the owner or
builder if it has radon-resistant features. The EPA
recommends building new homes with radon-resistant features in
high radon potential (Zone 1) areas. Even if built
radon-resistant, every new home should be tested for radon
after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L or
more, you can have
a
qualified mitigator easily add a vent fan to an existing
passive system for about $300 and further reduce the radon
level in your home. For more information, refer to
EPA's Map of
Radon Zones and other useful EPA documents on
radon-resistant new construction (see
publications), or visit
www.epa.gov/radon |
|
Go to
top
  There
are two main sources for the radon in your home's indoor air, the soil
and the water supply. Compared to radon entering the home through
water, radon entering your home through the soil is usually a much
larger risk.
The radon in your water
supply poses an inhalation risk and an ingestion risk. Research has
shown that your risk of lung cancer from breathing radon in air is
much larger than your risk of stomach cancer from swallowing water
with radon in it. Most of your risk from radon in water comes from
radon released into the air when water is used for showering and other
household purposes.
Radon in your home's water
is not usually a problem when its source is surface water. A radon in
water problem is more likely when its source is ground water, e.g. a
private well or a public water supply system that uses ground
water. If you are concerned that radon may be entering your home
through the water and your water comes from a public water supply,
contact your water supplier.
If you've tested your
private well and have a radon in water problem, it can be fixed. Your
home's water supply can be treated in two ways. Point-of-entry
treatment can effectively remove radon from the water before it enters
your home. Point-of-use treatment devices remove radon from your
water at the tap, but only treat a small portion of the water you use
and are not effective in reducing the risk from breathing radon
released into the air from all water used in the home.
For more information, call
EPA's Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visit
www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html If your water comes from a
private well, you can also contact your state
radon office.
Go to
top
Since there is no known
safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. But the risk can
be reduced by lowering the radon level in your home.
There are several proven
methods to reduce radon in your home, but the one primarily used is
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. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind
of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can
also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. Radon contractors can
use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system
depends on the design of your home and other factors.
Ways to reduce radon in
your home are discussed in EPA's "Consumer's
Guide to Radon Reduction." You can get a copy from your
state radon
office.
The cost of reducing
radon in your home depends on how your home was built and the extent
of the radon problem. Most homes can be fixed for about the same
cost as other common home repairs. The average house costs about
$1,200 for a contractor to fix, although this can range from about
$800 to about $2,500. The cost is much less if a passive system was
installed during construction.
Radon and
Home Renovations
If you are
planning any major structural renovation, such as converting an
unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially
important to test the area for radon before you begin the
renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem,
radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part
of the renovation. Because major renovations can change the
level of radon in any home, always test again after work is
completed. |
  Lowering
high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You
should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. A
qualified contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help
you pick the right treatment method.
Check with your
state radon office for names of qualified or
state certified radon contractors in your area. You can also contact
private radon proficiency programs for lists of privately certified
radon professionals in your area. For more information on private
radon proficiency programs, visit
www.epa.gov/radon/proficiency.html Picking someone to fix your
radon problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home
repairs - you may want to get references and more than one estimate.
If you are considering
fixing your home's radon problem yourself, you should first contact
your state radon office for guidance and
assistance.
You should also test your
home again after it is fixed to be sure that radon levels have been
reduced. Most soil suction radon reduction systems include a monitor
that will indicate whether the system is operating properly. In
addition, it's a good idea to retest your home every two years to be
sure radon levels remain low.
Note: This diagram is
a composite view of several mitigation options. The typical
mitigation system usually has only one pipe penetration through the
basement floor; the pipe may also be installed on the outside of the
house.
Radon gas decays into
radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you
breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small
bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung
cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to
elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer. And the amount of
time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many
years.
Like other environmental
pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of radon
health risks. However, we know more about radon risks than risks
from most other cancer-causing substances. This is because estimates
of radon risks are based on studies of cancer in humans (underground
miners).
Smoking combined with
radon is an especially serious health risk. Stop smoking and lower
your radon level to reduce your lung cancer risk.
 Children
have been reported to have greater risk than adults of certain types
of cancer from radiation, but there are currently no conclusive data
on whether children are at greater risk than adults from radon.
Your chances of
getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
| How much radon is in your
home |
| The amount of time you spend
in your home |
| Whether you are a smoker or
have ever smoked |
Go to top
Radon Risk If You Smoke
|
Radon Level |
If 1,000 people who
smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... |
The risk of cancer
from radon exposure compares to**... |
WHAT TO DO:
Stop smoking and... |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 260 people could get lung
cancer |
250 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 150 people could get lung
cancer |
200 times the risk of dying in a
home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 120 people could get lung
cancer |
30 times the risk of dying in a
fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 62 people could get lung
cancer |
5 times the risk of dying in a car
crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 32 people could get lung
cancer |
6 times the risk of dying from
poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4
pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 20 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon
evels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
About 3 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a
former smoker, your risk may be lower.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control Reports. |
Radon Risk If You've
Never Smoked
|
Radon Level |
If 1,000 people who
never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... |
The risk of cancer
from radon exposure compares to**... |
WHAT TO DO: |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 36 people could get lung
cancer |
35 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 18 people could get lung
cancer |
20 times the risk of dying in a
home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 15 people could get lung
cancer |
4 times the risk of dying in a
fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 7 people could get lung
cancer |
The risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 4 person could get lung
cancer |
The risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4
pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 2 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon levels
below
2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
|
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a
former smoker, your risk may be higher.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control Reports. |
It's never too
late to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Don't wait to test and fix
a radon problem. If you are a smoker, stop smoking.
Go to
top
MYTH: Scientists are
not sure that radon really is a problem.
FACT:
Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to
radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and
the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon
causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This
is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much
greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is
difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
FACT:
Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a
qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small
amount of time and effort.
MYTH: Radon testing
devices are not reliable and are difficult to find.
FACT:
Reliable testing devices are available from qualified radon testers
and companies. Reliable testing devices are also available by phone
or mail-order, and can be purchased in hardware stores and other
retail outlets. Call your
state radon
office for help in identifying radon testing companies.
MYTH: Homes with radon
problems can't be fixed.
FACT:
There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of
thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their
homes. Radon levels can be readily lowered for $800 to $2,500 (with
an average cost of $1,200).. Call your
state radon
office for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects
only certain kinds of homes.
FACT:
House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a
problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes,
insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements.
Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built
are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a
problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT:
High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do
vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is
to test.
MYTH: A neighbor's test
result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT:
It's not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only
way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should
test their water for radon.
FACT:
Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important
to first test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes
from a public water supply that uses ground water, call your water
supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private
well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for
information on testing your water.
MYTH: It's difficult to
sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT:
Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been
blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some times a good
selling point.
MYTH: I've lived in my
home for so long, it doesn't make sense to take action now.
FACT:
You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon
levels, even if you've lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests
can't be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT: A short-term
test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide
whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your
two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be
about whether your year-round average is above or below that level.
Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk.
Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
* If the radon test is part of a
real estate transaction, the result of two short-term tests can be
used in deciding whether to mitigate. For more information, see
EPA's "Home
Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon".
Go to top
www.epa.gov/radon EPA's main radon page. Includes links to
publications,
hotlines,
private radon
proficiency programs and more.
|
SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH
ADVISORY:
"Indoor radon gas is a national health problem. Radon causes
thousands of deaths each year. Millions of homes have elevated
radon levels. Homes should be tested for radon. When elevated
levels are confirmed, the problem should be corrected." (1988) |
U.S. EPA Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes
In June 2003, the EPA revised its
risk assessment for radon exposure in homes. EPA estimates that
about 21,000 annual lung cancer deaths are radon related. EPA
also concluded that the effects of radon and cigarette smoking
are synergistic, so that smokers are at higher risk from radon.
EPA's revised estimates are based on the National Academy of
Sciences 1999 BEIR IV (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation)
Report which concluded that radon is the second leading cause of
lung cancer after smoking. |
Call your state radon office for
additional help with any of your radon questions. Up-to-date
information on how to contact your state radon office is also
available on EPA's web site at
www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html , or call EPA's toll free
Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQINFO) at (800)
438-4318 to obtain the current listing.
IAQ INFO
P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013-7133
1-800-438-4318/703-356-4020
(fax) 703-356-5386
iaqinfo@aol.com
or, you can order this publication
directly via EPA's National Service Center for Environmental
Publications (NSCEP) (http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/).
web site. Your publication requests can also be mailed, called or
faxed directly to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 42419
1-800-490-9198/(513) 489-8695 (fax)
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