The Real Dangers of Radon & How to Deal with It!
January is Radon Awareness Month! If you’ve never heard of radon, it’s time to get educated about it so here I am to educate you! Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed in the earth from the decomposition of radium (which is itself a byproduct of the decomposition of uranium) and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Elevated radon levels were not recognized by the EPA as a public health threat until the 1980’s so many older (and some new) homes are not adequately protected from the threat.
The good news is that testing for and mitigating radon in your home can be easier than you might think. Let’s dive into how you can effectively test for and mitigate it in your home to keep you and your family safe!
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
Radon is naturally found in soils and seeps into our homes through cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes, through sump pump pits, and even through well water. It’s odorless and tasteless and can’t be detected without specialized equipment so radon often goes unnoticed by the average homeowner, but its long-term effects can be life-altering.
Why Is Radon Dangerous?
When inhaled, radon’s radioactive particles can damage lung tissue, increasing the risk of lung cancer over time. Radon exposure is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The EPA has identified 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) as the take “action level” for radon. No amount of radon is considered “safe” but If your home’s radon level is at or above this threshold, it’s time to take steps to reduce it so I’m going to show you several ways how you can do that.
How to Determine Your Radon Risk:
1. Find Out if Radon is Prevalent in Your Area:
Certain areas of the country are more prone to high radon levels than others.The EPA provides a radon zone map that shows which areas in the U.S. are more likely to have naturally elevated radon levels. State radon programs also offer localized resources to help you understand the risks in your local community.
2. Test Your Homes Air for Radon:
- DIY Route: Radon test kits are widely available online and at home improvement stores. I recommend a company called Airthings which has a bunch of different Radon monitoring and testing equipment. I have the Airthings View installed upstairs in my home and the Airthings Wave in the basement. The thing to know about radon is that the levels change from day to day so using a monitoring system like Airthings for about a month will give you the most accurate analysis.
- Consult a Local Radon Professional: Find a qualified radon testing professional by visiting your state radon contact or by visiting the EPA website.
3. Test Your Homes Well Water for Radon:
Local water districts remove radon as part of their water treatment efforts; however, if you are on a well you are on your own! If you have well water AND elevated (air) radon levels, you may also want to test your well water. You can do this by ordering a test online and sending the sample back to the lab. In about a week you’ll have the results. Radon can be released from your water when it is running for showers, baths, doing dishes, and even through home humidifiers that utilize the water. Drinking well water with radon in it has been shown to lead to stomach and digestive cancers over time; however, the primary concern of radon exposure is respiratory.
Methods to Effectively Mitigate Radon in the Air
If radon levels in your home are above the recommended action level, there are several effective ways to reduce them:
- Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD): SSD is a common solution where a pipe-and-fan system is utilized beneath your foundation to draw radon out and release it safely outside. Application may vary but drilling into the slab (basement floor or similar) may be required. A pipe is then placed into the hole and sealed. An exterior mounted fan draws the air from the soil into that pipe and vents it safely outside like a big vacuum.
- Sealing Cracks and Openings: Cracks in floors, walls, and foundations can be sealed to limit radon entry points. This can be done with caulks and spray foams.
- Improved Ventilation: Systems like crawl space ventilation or whole-house ventilation can also help dilute radon gas. However, the should be utilized in addition to a sufficient vapor barrier in instances where the crawl space floor is not finished.
- Crawl Space Vapor Barriers: Placing a vapor barrier over exposed soil can reduce radon seepage. This is done by using a thick vapor barrier all throughout the crawlspace and one or several vented pipes are installed underneath it and connected to an exterior mounted fan to suck out the harmful gas and release it outside the home. In new construction, it is now common for a non-permeable membrane to be added between the soil and concrete foundations.
- Sealing and Venting Sump Pumps: In some cases, simply capping off a sump pump pit and connecting a pipe to a vent fan is sufficient to reduce radon levels to an adequate level.
Methods to Effectively Mitigate Radon in Well Water
For well water mitigation, there are several ways to remove the radon. Each carries their own set of expenses and pros & cons so do your research and find out which system is best for you and your family.
Aeration System: Likely the most expensive way is to add an Aeration system to your well water before it comes from your taps. The aeration system agitates the water by injecting it with air. The water releases the held Radon gases from the water as it bubbles and the gas can be safely pumped outside the house. This will greatly reduce the amount of radon contained in the water by <99%. These systems can be quite expensive. You can view some options here.
Granular Activated Carbon: The second option is to add a GAC or Granular activated carbon filter to your water supply system which will help remove the radon. The carbon filters the larger Radon molecule from the water; however, the filter itself will then become irradiated. Although an inexpensive option, handling and disposing of used filters carries its own set of health and environmental issues. Disposing of the used filters may require special disposal depending on your states environmental laws.
Reverse Osmosis: A reverse osmosis system can also remove the radon from the water. These are relatively affordable for singular sinks/faucets; however, they will not treat the whole home unless installed at the source (point-of-entry) which may require a (more expensive) specialized system.
Do Water Softeners Remove Radon?
No, most basic water softening systems do not remove radon from well water. There are some specialty softener systems that can act as a radon removal tool.
Why Winter Is the Perfect Time to Act
The cold winter weather typically makes radon levels higher indoors, as we keep our homes sealed up to trap in the heat. This makes winter an ideal time to test for radon and take corrective action if needed. By addressing radon risks now, you’re setting your family up for a safer, healthier year ahead. Radon may be invisible, but its impact on your health is very real. Let’s help bring awareness to radon and commit to making our homes healthier, safer spaces!
Primary Sources: www.epa.gov
