A
lot of "mis-information"
about radon exists. But in short, radon is a naturally occuring gas produced
when uranium breaks down into "radium". The radium breaks
further down to form a radioactive gas called radon. The more uranium that exists in the sub-surface rock
in an area, the higher the potential for elevated
radon levels within a buildings constructed upon that soil.
Radon seemed not to be an issue in the 70's and the years before. First of
all, the scientific community didn't KNOW (until the mid 80's) that radon
naturally emanates from the ground. Second,
most of the homes built since the mid-70's have had a greater emphasis on
"energy efficiency". They do a better job of holding in "heating and cooling", but they also
will retain any other gases entering the house (like radon).
Warm air rises. When this happens in
your home, it creates a vacuum in the lower areas of the house. Nature
hates a vacuum, so something must rush in to fill it. In the case of your
home, air seeps in from the soil around and under the house, and some air is
sucked in through openings (cracks, doors, windows) on the lower levels.
Radon is "pressure driven". Radon gas enters the same way air and other soil gases enter the home; through
cracks in the foundation floor or walls, hollow-block walls, and openings around
the floor drains, pipes and sump pumps. Radon seeps up from the soil and is drawn into the home because the "negative pressure" often associated with 'energy efficient
structures', is greater on the inside than that which is under the concrete slab or in the
crawlspace. Once radon gas has an opportunity to accumulate at elevated
levels in a home, it
presents
a potential health concern for its occupants.
Radon
breaks down into several radioactive elements called "radon decay products,"
which are solid particles that become suspended in air. They are extremely small
and easily inhaled, where they can attach to lung tissue. Because of their very short
"half-lives" radon decay products further decay and expose the lungs to
radiation. Next to smoking, scientists believe that radon is associated with more
lung cancer deaths than any other compound. Radon is classified as a "Group
A" carcinogen, defined as a substance known to cause cancer in humans.
The
U.S. EPA, the American Medical Association, the American Lung Association, the U.S.
Surgeon General, and the National Academy of Sciences - in addition to many other
health organizations - all agree that radon is a health concern that must be addressed.
In May of 1993, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) joined the EPA in urging
all Americans to test their homes for radon. NAR encouraged state associations to
develop and support legislation or regulation requiring mandatory property condition
disclosure, including radon, by the seller.
Learn some terminology and consider
some statistics!
* The average
outdoor level of radon is 0.4 pCi/L.
* The average indoor level of radon is 1.3 pCi/L.
* The 4 pCi/L action level
that the EPA set for determining action for "radon
abatement" is not
a safety standard. It was a level that they felt was
"technologically achievable" and "cost
affordable"). Levels below this still
represent some risk.
* Statistics place radon as a the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the in the
U.S.
* It is estimated that radon
causes about 21,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
Note: Buildings other than homes can also have radon concerns (such as commercial buildings, schools, apartments, etc.). High levels of radon were reported in 14 schools in Greenville County in a Clemson University study, (as seen in the Greenville News, April 29, 1993). But its reasonable to assume that if the schools or commercial buildings in a given town or community have elevated levels of radon, the homes in the same area are susceptible and should also each be tested! The EPA recommends that EVERY house should be tested for radon because elevated levels of radon have been discovered in every state!
What is the average level of radon in YOUR home? You don't know until you TEST!
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