Radon is a radioactive gas emitted naturally from the ground. However, when radon gets trapped indoors—after entering a home through joints in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings—it may concentrate at dangerous levels. And exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.

How long can you be exposed to high levels of radon?

There are no immediate signs or symptoms from breathing in background radon. Repeated exposure over time — around 20 years — can lead to cancer development, especially if you are also a smoker. Symptoms of lung cancer may include: Chest pain.

At what level should I worry about radon?





Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.

What happens if we are exposed to high levels of radon continuously?

When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs and gives off radiation. Over a long time, that can damage the cells there and lead to lung cancer. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

Does opening windows reduce radon?

As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.

Is it OK to live in a house with radon?

However, because radon isn’t safe at any level, they also suggest treating homes with radon levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. According to the EPA, the average radon gas concentration in a home is about 1.3 pCi/L, which does not pose an appreciable risk to most residents living in the house.

Why do my radon levels fluctuate?





Like most gasses, radon levels fluctuate daily. The amount of radon emitted from the ground and the amount that actually enters our home can change for many reasons. It can be affected by natural sources such as cold weather, wind, pressure and shifting soil—even earthquakes and local construction.

Should I walk away from a house with radon?

Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home. It’s actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it’s not that expensive,” Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said.

What time of year is radon highest?

winter

The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.

Is radon 2.2 high?



FAQs: Acceptable Radon Levels. What constitutes an acceptable or safe radon level? According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0.

How long does it take to get rid of radon?

Generally speaking, it only takes one to three days to remove the radon from your home, and then it will need to be tested again. If levels are below the recommended threshold of 0.4 pCi/L, a radon mitigation system can be installed to prevent more radon from coming into your home.

Can air purifiers help with radon?

Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.

How do I lower radon in my basement?



Other Ways to Reduce Radon

  1. Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. …
  2. Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.

How accurate are 2 day radon tests?

“Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, .

What are symptoms of radon poisoning?

A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.

  • Persistent cough.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Wheezing.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Chest pain.
  • Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
  • Loss of appetite.

How do you fix a radon problem?



If your home has a radon problem, it can be fixed by installing a radon mitigation system in the home. EPA and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health recommend that you get a certified or licensed radon mitigation contractor to install the system.

Can all radon problems be fixed?

Key point: All homes can be fixed. Radon mitigation systems and the professionals who install them can fix radon problems. There is not a radon clean-up solution because radon gas continuously seeps into homes from the soil below. You have to stop the flow.

Does a fan help with radon?

In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively, or actively, with the use of a fan. Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home’s suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the home.

How common is radon in homes?

one out of every 15 homes



Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.

Are digital radon detectors accurate?

The monitors had a range of uncertainty from 2%–15% with a range of precision from 1%–24%. The monitors performed better at higher radon levels than at levels near the Canadian guideline level of 200 Bq m3, and slightly better during ‘summer’ conditions than during ‘indoor winter’ conditions.

What state has the highest radon?

Here are the 10 US States with the highest average Radon levels:

  • Alaska (10.7)
  • South Dakota (9.6)
  • Pennsylvania (8.6)
  • Ohio (7.8)
  • Washington (7.5)
  • Kentucky (7.4)
  • Montana (7.4)
  • Idaho (7.3)