When living inside your home, safety and comfort are the first and likely the most important factors to consider. Besides shielding you from the sun, wind, and rain, your home is also your safe sanctuary, where you want to breathe easy and healthy air.
But what if the same is jeopardized due to prolonged exposure to an odorless and invisible air – Radon? Every year, thousands of people in the U.S are diagnosed with lung cancer due to extended radon exposure (in their homes) that they weren’t aware of.
This explains the need to know safe radon levels and ways to mitigate high gas levels in people’s homes.
What is Radon?
Radon is an odorless, invisible, and almost undetectable radioactive gas that develops following the natural decay of uranium, which is present underground, especially in the soil, water, and rock bed. When the gas is produced, it gradually moves upward and mixes with the air we breathe.
While its impacts aren’t as profound with the outdoor air, the exposure to concentrated radon gas inside people’s homes is where things take a turn for the worse.
It can become trapped when it enters homes through foundation cracks or other openings, especially in lower levels like basements. Since it is impossible to detect radon with the naked eye or through the sense of smell, getting frequent check-ins is a necessity.
What are the Health Risks Associated with Radon Exposure?
The primary concern of radon exposure is linked to lung cancer, which claims 21,000 lives every year in the United States.
When you consistently inhale radon and its decay products, the radioactive particles release, damaging the lung tissue. Initial exposure starts the damage, and prolonged exposure may eventually lead to lung cancer, especially in people who also smoke.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), prolonged exposure to high radon levels significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The longer the exposure, the greater the risk.
What are the Acceptable Radon Levels Indoors?
Given that radon is a radioactive and damaging gas that damages lung tissue and causes cancer, the best-case scenario would be 0. However, official authorities and organizations indicate that having a radon level below 2.6 pCi/L or 100 Bq/m3 is the safest.
Keeping the radon levels at zero is impossible given the consistent production of it underground. Reports suggest that the average outdoor levels of radon are between 5 and 15 Bq/m3, equal to 0.135-0.405 pCi/L.
The lung cancer risks increase by 16% for every 2.7 pCI/L increase in the radon exposure. This explains why it is necessary to implement ways to keep the radon levels in check and thereby minimize the risks.
Every country has a standard average level of radon that’s deemed “safe.” However, the World Health Organization has standardized that at 100 Bq/m3, or 2.7 pCi/L. So, if your home or office has a higher radon level than the average, it is vital to implement mitigation strategies immediately to bring down the levels.
To ensure your indoor environment is safe, it’s essential to learn how to test air quality in your home and take action if needed.
What is the Best Way to Monitor Radon Levels?
Monitoring radon levels periodically is necessary. However, calling professionals every time can often be expensive. This is where digital radon detectors are a good choice. They are easily accessible, and the readings are fairly accurate, too.
Since maintaining low radon levels inside the home is necessary to maintain everyone’s health, using a digital radon detector allows you to measure the levels regularly and detect any drastic changes in the levels immediately.
One thing to consider when monitoring radon levels in homes is to expect inconsistencies. For example, the radon levels might be through the roof in the living room, but they might be lower inside the bedroom. This happens because the radon isn’t distributed evenly throughout the homes. So, having sporadic readings is normal.
This also emphasizes the importance of taking “short-term sample reading” and averaging “long-term reading”.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Short-term tests (2-90 days): Ideal for initial screening.
- Long-term tests (90+ days): These provide a more accurate average exposure over time.
Professional radon inspectors often use continuous radon monitors that provide detailed readings over time.
How to Bring Down Radon Levels in Homes?
If you have measured the radon levels in your home and they are seemingly high, it is time to hire professionals who will detect the issue and then implement the necessary methods to mitigate it.
Some of the common mitigation strategies include:
- Sub-slab depressurization: A fan and pipe system draws radon from beneath the foundation and vents it outside.
- Sealing cracks: This helps reduce radon entry but is not a standalone solution.
- Improving ventilation: Especially in basements and crawl spaces.
- Pressurization systems: Prevent radon from entering by increasing indoor air pressure
The kind of radon mitigation system you’d need will depend on the radon levels in your home and its design and foundation.
Can Radon Levels Change Over Time?
One important thing about radon levels is that they are never stagnant and consistently change. They can change daily, seasonally, or even hourly, for that matter.
Some of the factors that contribute to the change are:
- Weather conditions (temperature, wind, humidity)
- Ground saturation or water table level
- Home ventilation patterns
- Structural changes to the building
This is one of the main reasons you should prioritize daily and long-term testing to get an accurate picture of the average exposure over time.
When Should You Retest for Radon Levels?
If you have a digital radon detector in your home, testing every day or every week is recommended, especially if you have a history of dealing with high radon levels.
However, if you are considering hiring professionals for the detection and mitigation, here’s how often you should retest for radon levels:
- Every 2 years
- After significant renovations (especially basement work)
- After installing a mitigation system
- When buying or selling a home
This should provide an average understanding of the radon levels, enabling you to implement mitigation systems if necessary.
Final Words
While radon is an invisible threat, it is one that can be effectively managed. A safe radon level is ideally below 2.6 pCi/L, but mitigation is strongly advised once levels exceed 4.0 pCi/L. Given its strong link to lung cancer, especially for smokers, every homeowner should prioritize testing for radon and, if necessary, take action to reduce it. We hope this detailed guide provides all the essential insights you need to understand radon exposure and how to mitigate it well.
