For peace of mind, add “test for radon” to your 2016 to-do list.
By Janet McCabe
If I told you that there was an invisible, odorless air pollutant that was responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths in America every year, I bet you’d want to know that something was being done about it.
The fact is, you can do something about it – by testing your home for radon.
We take radon very seriously at EPA. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths per year than radon, making it the second leading cause in the United States. As one staff member in the EPA air office said to me recently, “The statistics on radon are no joke.” I couldn’t agree more.
Where does it come from? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from uranium deposits in the soil. As uranium breaks down, it gives off radon gas, which then rises and can enter homes through their foundations. If that happens, then radon levels can reach dangerously high levels. There’s no way to predict if your home has high or low levels, though some areas of the country are more prone to high radon levels than others.
Testing is the only way to know for sure if your home is safe. Nationally, one in 15 homes has radon above the level at which the U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend taking action, which is four picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air.
January is National Radon Action Month, when EPA joins with states and a number of national organizations to spread the word about the importance of testing for radon. January is a great time to test because that’s when doors and windows are shut to keep out the cold, leading to test results that are likely to show a home’s maximum radon level.
Testing is nothing to be intimidated by. Reliable, low cost, do-it-yourself kits have easy to follow instructions and are available online and at many hardware stores. There’s also the option of hiring a qualified tester. Whichever way you choose, a great place to start is your state’s radon office.
There’s no reason to delay. I should know; I’ve tested two homes. One had high levels that we were easily able to fix, and the other was safe, which was a huge relief.
If tests show elevated radon levels, the fixes are straightforward and affordable – comparable in cost to replacing a few windows or a garage door. Like what happened with my homes, the peace of mind that you get in return is priceless.
Questions about radon? Join me and the American Lung Association for a twitter chat on Thursday, January 21 at 3:00pm ET to learn more about radon and what you can do to protect your family. Use the #TestForRadon hashtag to participate.
Jan 20, 2016 @ 11:56:22
THANK TO YOU FROM INDIA THAT THE ATMOSPHERE IS EXCHANGING DAY BY DAY.BUT NOBODY IS THINKING OVER IT HOW IT MAY BE RECTIFIED.DUE TO SCARCITY OF GREEN AND INCREASING TRANSPORT WHICH ARE USING BY PETROL,DIESEL AND COAL.NOW THE PRODUCTION IS INCREASING IN ELECTRICITY.SO WHY THE PEOPLE ARE NOT USING ELECTING CAR.SOLAR SYSTEM MAY BE UTILIZED IN EVERY HOME.SO POLLUTION MAY BE CONTROL.IN SUMMER WE FEEL IT WHY THE AIR CONDITIONER ARE USING IN EVERY HOME.ENVIRONMENT IS TO SEE NOW FIRST.
Jan 29, 2016 @ 18:18:36
Respect should do of every one, who think about peace in the world.
Jan 20, 2016 @ 12:09:57
IT IS CORRECT THAT WE ARE TAKING RADON EVERYDAY FOR THE LOSS OF ENVIRONMENT.YOUR ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT.WHEN WE CLOSE THE DOORS,WINDOWS AND OTHER FOR THE COLD THEN RADON IS NOT SUIT FOR HEALTH.MY FATHER IN LAW DIED BY CANCER RECENTLY WHO WAS A PROFESSOR IN PHYSICS.
Jan 20, 2016 @ 17:23:45
Hadn’t thought about this… will definitely check into getting my house tested!!
Jan 23, 2016 @ 15:17:23
I also think what only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths per year than radon…
If radon an invisible, odorless air pollutant, how to escape from it?…
Jan 25, 2016 @ 10:22:04
Thanks admin,
actually I was searching for this from 3 hours in google.
Jan 25, 2016 @ 10:22:45
Thanks admin,
actually I was searching for this from 3 hours in google,
Jan 25, 2016 @ 12:34:34
It should be noted here that although there are personal radon detectors homeowners can use, you might want to consider hiring either a private consulting firm familiar with radon testing to do it or at least contact your city’s officials and see if they’ll do the testing for you. Radon is serious health issue not to get the most accurate reading of.
Jan 26, 2016 @ 23:48:38
Thanks admin,
actually I was searching for this from 3 hours in google.
Jan 26, 2016 @ 23:49:37
thanks admin,
I also think what only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths
Feb 02, 2016 @ 09:37:41
Our generation is going to face this problem largely. I think that this will not stop because nobody think about this problem. Also, our technology has the major role to spread the pollution and deceases as well. However, this is the good part to check the area weather its affected or not.
Feb 07, 2016 @ 07:23:03
Thanks.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 02:56:44
Thank you![:)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20170115142957im_/https://blog.epa.gov/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/simple-smile.png)
Feb 15, 2016 @ 05:51:28
IT IS CORRECT THAT WE ARE TAKING RADON EVERYDAY FOR THE LOSS OF ENVIRONMENT.YOUR ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT.WHEN WE CLOSE THE DOORS,WINDOWS AND OTHER FOR THE COLD THEN RADON IS NOT SUIT FOR HEALTH.MY FATHER IN LAW DIED BY CANCER RECENTLY WHO WAS A PROFESSOR IN PHYSICS.
it is correct that we are taking radon everyday for the loss of environment. your assumption is correct. when we close the doors, windows and other for the cold then radon is not suit for health.
save the world.
Feb 15, 2016 @ 05:52:16
I also think what only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths per year than radon…
If radon an invisible, odorless air pollutant, how to escape from it?
Feb 15, 2016 @ 23:09:33
will definitely check into getting my house tested!!…..Hadn’t thought about this…
I also think what only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths per year than radon…
If radon an invisible, odorless air pollutant, how to escape from it?…
Feb 17, 2016 @ 02:50:27
When radon enters our homes and either the ventilation is not well.
Feb 17, 2016 @ 06:52:08
Thank you
Feb 17, 2016 @ 07:36:16
Impact of smoking is also bad in your reputation & it’s finally smoke your health.
Feb 17, 2016 @ 14:04:00
Well done
Mar 22, 2016 @ 17:22:27
Thanks for sharing .it very useful information for blog commenting lists…:)
Mar 24, 2016 @ 10:25:33
I agree with you, we are taking radon everyday for the loss of environment. your assumption is correct. when we close the doors, windows and other for the cold then radon is not suit for health.
Mar 25, 2016 @ 06:58:30
radon may found to be the less cause of lung cancer and most folks ignore it. but the fact is they are the major cause for lung cancer and the effect will remain similar to smoking. thank you for this blog
Apr 15, 2016 @ 06:14:11
radon is also one of the cause of lung cancer, thank you for sharing this blog, this would incease awareness among the folks about the radon exposure
Apr 26, 2016 @ 08:08:20
the effect of tobacco on the body is same as the effect of the radon and it is always wise to stay away from the exposure. thank you for the blog
Jun 07, 2016 @ 07:18:49
that was very useful post, thank you for sharing it
Jun 23, 2016 @ 06:59:40
thanks admin,
this is very useful for my researches. thanks
Sep 06, 2016 @ 02:16:35
The radon provides great side effects on lung cancer.This information will help most of people from lungcancer and other to ensure from lungcancer.
Oct 27, 2016 @ 13:08:22
Great article! I’ve been a Home Inspector since 2014 and also test for radon. I can’t believe how many people I run into that are just clueless about its dangers. Thanks for writing this.
Nov 22, 2016 @ 17:57:06
Understand the results. The amount of radon in the air is measured in picoCuries per liter of air or pCi/L. The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, whereas about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is typically found in the outside air.[12] According to most health authorities, 4 pCi/L of radon is the cutoff point between acceptable and unsafe.
Short-term testing can be less definitive about whether your home is above 4 pCi/L or not if it’s close to that amount — there is a margin of testing error.
Thus, any reading over 3.5 pCi/L should be considered fairly high and reason to do more testing, It’s important to remember that radon isn’t safe at any level, so readings below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases.
Nov 22, 2016 @ 17:59:02
Understand the results. The amount of radon in the air is measured in picoCuries per liter of air or pCi/L. The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, whereas about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is typically found in the outside air.[12] According to most health authorities, 4 pCi/L of radon is the cutoff point between acceptable and unsafe.
Short-term testing can be less definitive about whether your home is above 4 pCi/L or not if it’s close to that amount — there is a margin of testing error.
Thus, any reading over 3.5 pCi/L should be considered fairly high and reason to do more testing, It’s important to remember that radon isn’t safe at any level, so readings below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases. please this info
Dec 26, 2016 @ 12:41:27
We appreciate Ms. McCabe addressing this important health issue in 2016, and hope the EPA will continue to do the same in future years. We intend to promote radon testing in our own local area during National Radon Action Month in 2017.
While it is hard to garner attention for the issue amidst the great variety of other health risks, setting aside one month a year has been an excellent way to focus attention on a once-a-year, intentional effort. January provides the U.S. one of the best opportunities to utilize EPA closed-home testing protocols when conducting a radon test. Test your home if you haven’t already done so.
Dec 26, 2016 @ 14:50:23
I bought a house in 2013 that was built in 1958 and NEVER had a radon test. A single family had lived there the entire time and no one had lung cancer. The mother did eventually die of some cancer (I don’t have the details) but was in her 80s. I had to have a test done and they found levels around 6 pCi/L and they had to put in a radon fan in the basement before I bought it. I think the science as it applies to homes seems way overblown. I still run the fan 24/7 but feel it is a waste of time.
Dec 27, 2016 @ 11:01:10
Chris, your experience demonstrates some of the challenges of finding effective ways to apply the findings of radon health studies to residential home environments. There are so many variables from home to home and from family to family. The one-size-fits-all approach is probably not the most efficient way to reduce the hazard of an individual family. However, it is the most effective way to reduce hazards on a community and national scale.
Single test results just above 4 pCi/L indicate another test should be conducted to confirm the results. Buyers, sellers, and their realtors have a hard enough time waiting for the findings of a single 48 hour test. At $100-150 per test conducted by a 3rd party professional, the overall cost accumulates and time drags on. Choosing to install a $800-1200 mitigation system (costs vary by region) quickens the sale, and eliminates the cost of additional testing.
Would a second test have confirmed the results in your home? Would a different family have contracted cancer if they had lived in the home from 1958 to 2013? Will your family be exposed to cancer risks if you stop running your fan?
We have no way to definitively know the answer to these questions. However, the results of radon studies continue to support the action levels and mitigation techniques we use today. I personally hope that more new home builders will begin installing the inexpensive passive radon reduction systems which were not available when your home was built. It would go a long way in reducing the need of adding mitigation systems later.