Radon and Indoor Air Quality

Alex Manning, Clean Air Advice
June 2006

Radon is a naturally occurring gaseous element that forms during the decay of Uranium-238 in the ground. Radon concentrations vary from one location to the next but will be higher in areas that have high uranium soil concentrations.

Radon is a toxic carcinogenic gas. What makes it dangerous is that it is completely colorless and odorless. Because radon is a decay product of uranium, occurring naturally in the soil, it can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, exposed rock and well water.

While there are no immediate symptoms or health effects from exposure to radon, it is in fact a health risk. Several separate studies have linked radon found in homes to lung cancer. The U.S. Surgeon General has also warned the American public about the risks of poor indoor air quality due to radon concentrations. Poor indoor air quality due to radon exposure is the estimated cause of 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States alone. This makes radon one of the leading causes of lung cancer, second only to smoking. Cases of lung cancer have been found to occur 5-25 years after exposure. There is no evidence linking radon to other respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic sinusitis. Also, there is nothing to indicate that children are at any greater risk than adults.

The average level of radon found in indoors is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The EPA's recommended action level is anything above 4 pCi/L. An average of 1 out of every 15 homes has an indoor radon level at or above the recommended action level.

Radon can be a problem in any type of home regardless of how new it is and even if it does not have a basement. The only way to be certain that your indoor air quality has safe levels of radon is to test it. Radon testing kits can be purchased either online or at many local hardware stores. Be sure to purchase only an EPA-approved test kit.

Radon levels can be reduced through various simple methods. Since radon is a gas it can be vented outdoors. Installing an active ventilation system in areas found to have high radon concentrations helps to improve indoor air quality in the long run. Sealing foundation cracks and other paths radon may use to enter homes will help prevent future problems as well.

Radon is a harmful substance and can only found if tested for. Home radon testing is easy, inexpensive and reliable. If you find you have poor indoor air quality due to high radon concentrations, a qualified contractor can easily fix the problem.

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