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Radon is a Serious Hazard

Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

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Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful at elevated levels. The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before have we had such overwhelming scientific consensus and robust data to support exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.

Radon enters the home because 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 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 floor drains, pipes, and sump pumps.

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity. The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend homes with radon levels 4 pCi/L, or greater, be fixed.

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. And, if discovered, radon problems can be fixed. Radon test kits meeting EPA guidelines are available at local hardware stores, home improvement stores, some supermarkets, other retail outlets, or directly from a laboratory. Information on how to purchase a radon detector is available from your state radon office. Many are priced under $25. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $500 to $2,500).

A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes. Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction. EPA does not recommend the use of sealing and caulking alone to reduce radon because, by itself, sealing has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. In most cases, systems with pipes and fans are used to reduce radon. Such systems are called a sub-slab depressurization. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the home from below the concrete floor and the foundation. Similar systems can also be installed in homes with crawl spaces. Radon reduction contractors may use other methods in your home, depending on its design and other factors. Look in the Yellow Pages or call your state radon office to locate radon mitigators in your area.

Families are urged to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Week by testing their homes for elevated levels of radon. It is a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution. For more information on radon, radon testing, and radon mitigation contact the Nebraska Radon Program at (402) 471-0594 or (800) 334-9491 or visit the Web site http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/radon. They also have radon testing kits available for a small fee.