JRV Home Inspection Services Radon Information
Connecticut CT Certified Home Inspectors Radon Testing Guidelines
Radon gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking, and it is estimated to be responsible for 15,000 deaths annually. The American Lung Association
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Why you should have your own radon test performed when buying a home.
These are two radon tests from the same home during two separate sales. The original test was on:
The second on:
The first test was “good” or below the EPA action level, the second well above.
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If you are buying a home it makes good sense to test for radon before closing. Most often radon testing is a part of the home inspection clause in the purchase contract. The AARST (The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologist) recommends testing for radon prior to every transfer of a residential dwelling to a new owner. Even if a home has been tested before, the new owner may use the dwelling differently.
This is very good advice. Even when a home has been previously tested and the results disclosed, the accuracy of the results can not be assured. There may have been procedural errors with regard to EPA testing guidelines, thus rendering the results invalid.
The Connecticut Radon Program publishes a list of Nationally certified and State trained and qualified radon testing providers. It is their advice and ours to be sure your radon test is conducted by an individual who is on this list. The EPA radon testing protocols state; If a testing professional conducts the test, only EPA-listed or State-listed individuals should be hired.
Also if the home has a private well testing the water for radon at the same time is strongly recommended. Testing the air only does not indicate the level of radon in the water. Many times a home has an elevated radon level in the water and the air test is below the EPA advised mitigation levels.
Radon Fact Sheet The American Lung Association
Radon is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas that is a decay product of uranium and occurs naturally in soil and 
rock. Radon gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking, and it is estimated to be responsible for 15,000 deaths annually. Radon breaks down into components called radon progeny, sometimes called “radon daughters,” which emit high-energy alpha particles. These emissions raise the risk of lung cancer.
rock. Radon gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking, and it is estimated to be responsible for 15,000 deaths annually. Radon breaks down into components called radon progeny, sometimes called “radon daughters,” which emit high-energy alpha particles. These emissions raise the risk of lung cancer.- The main source of high-level radon pollution in buildings is surrounding uranium-containing soil such as granite, shale, phosphate and pitchblende.
- Radon enters a home through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings. It may also contaminate the water supply, especially in private wells.
- Over a person’s lifetime, particulate radon progeny can enter the lungs, attach themselves, and may eventually lead to lung cancer. Radon is believed to cause between 15,000 and 21,000 U.S. deaths from lung cancer annually.
- A level of four picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the level at which remedial action should be taken.
- Radon has been identified in every state. An estimated 6% (one in 15) of homes in the United States are estimated to have elevated levels of radon. The estimated average in Connecticut is 8% (one in 12 homes).
- Smokers exposed to radon substantially increase their risk of lung cancer in comparison to exposed non-smokers.
- It is possible for one home to have elevated levels of radon while a neighboring home does not. Testing is the only way to determine levels of radon in a structure. Testing can be done through do-it-yourself home test kits or through a professional testing firm.
- Home test kits labeled “meets EPA requirements” should be used. Both long-term and short-term tests can be done.
- Short-term tests remain in the home for two to 90 days, depending on the device. “Charcoal canisters,” “alpha track,” “electret ion chamber,” “continuous monitors,” and “charcoal liquid scintillation” detectors are the most common short-term testing devices.
- Long-term tests remain in the home for more than 90 days. “Alpha track” and “electret” detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test gives a more accurate annual average radon level than a short-term test, because radon levels vary day to day and season to season.
- Radon levels can be lowered through a variety of repairs, from sealing cracks in floors and walls to changing the flow of air into the building.
- Sub-slab depressurization uses pipes and fans to remove radon gas from beneath the concrete floor and foundation before it can enter the building. Radon is vented above the roof, where it safely disperses.
- Soil depressurization is used to ventilate the soil surrounding the home so that radon is drawn away before it can enter the structure.
- Repairs to decrease radon levels should be made by an EPA or state-certified contractor.
For more information call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872), or visit our web site at http://www.lungusa.org
Radon Myths and Facts
MYTH: Scientists are not sure that radon really is a problem.
FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
FACT: Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort.
MYTH: Radon testing devices are not reliable and are difficult to find.
FACT: Reliable testing devices are available from qualified radon testers and companies. Reliable testing devices are also available by phone or mail-order, and can be purchased in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Call your state radon office for help in identifying radon testing companies.
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Principles of a radon reduction system
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MYTH: Homes with radon problems can’t be fixed.
FACT: There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Radon levels can be readily lowered for $800 to $2,500 (with an average cost of $1,200). Call your state radon office for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
FACT: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
MYTH: A neighbor’s test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT: It’s not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should test their water for radon.
FACT: Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first test the air in the home for radon. (Inspectors note: This statement is against the advice of the Connecticut Department of Public Health Radon Program. An air test does not correlate to the amount of radon in water. Both the air and the water must be tested separately!) If your water comes from a public water supply that uses ground water, call your water supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for information on testing your water.
MYTH: It’s difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some times a good selling point.
MYTH: I’ve lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.
FACT: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you’ve lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests can’t be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT: A short-term test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
*If the radon test is part of a real estate transaction, the result of two short-term tests can be used in deciding whether to mitigate. For more information, see EPA’s “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon“.
June 2003 revision concerning radon risk information from the US EPA.
Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
The Agency has updated the estimates of lung cancer risks from indoor radon based on the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) latest report on radon, the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report (1999). EPA worked closely with the Science Advisory Board (SAB), an independent panel of scientific experts, to determine how best to apply the risk models developed by the BEIR VI committee. The SAB’s advice and recommendations were incorporated modifying and extending the methods and approaches used in BEIR VI to construct a single model yielding results midway between the results obtained using the two models preferred by the BEIR VI committee. The Agency’s updated calculation of a best estimate of annual lung cancer deaths from radon is about 21,000 (with an uncertainty range of 8,000 to 45,000), which is consistent with the estimates of the BEIR VI Report. A single risk model also permitted the Agency to calculate a numerical estimate of the risk per unit exposure [lung cancer deaths per working level month (WLM)] which will be used to update estimated lung cancer risks from radon in various publications, including “ A Citizen’s Guide to Radon.” The full text of the updated risk assessment, “EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes” (EPA 402-R-03-003) is available as a down loadable Adobe Acrobat PDF file (PDF, 99 pgs. 1.3MB)
The following is an updated chart of the lifetime risk of lung cancer death per person from radon exposure in homes (excerpted from the updated radon risk assessment).
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Radon Level a
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Lifetime Risk of Lung Cancer Death (per person) from Radon Exposure in Homes b | ||
| pCi/L | Never Smokers | Current Smokers c | General Population |
| 20 | 36 out of 1,000 | 26 out of 100 | 11 out of 100 |
| 10 | 18 out of 1,000 | 15 out of 100 | 56 out of 1,000 |
| 8 | 15 out of 1,000 | 12 out of 100 | 45 out of 1,000 |
| 4 | 73 out of 10,000 | 62 out of 1,000 | 23 out of 1,000 |
| 2 | 37 out of 10,000 | 32 out of 1,000 | 12 out of 1,000 |
| 1.25 | 23 out of 10,000 | 20 out of 1,000 | 73 out of 10,000 |
| 0.4 | 73 out of 100,000 | 64 out of 10,000 | 23 out of 10,000 |
| a Assumes constant lifetime exposure in homes at these levels. b Estimates are subject to uncertainties as discussed in Chapter VIII of the risk assessment. c Note: BEIR VI did not specify excess relative risks for current smokers. |
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National Academy of Sciences Report on Radon
In February 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its report on radon and lung cancer, The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon (the BEIR VI report). The NAS is an independent, non-governmental, scientific organization. The NAS estimates that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States and that 12 percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon. The BEIR VI Committee (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation) concluded that after smoking, radon is the second leading cause of death due to lung cancer in the United States.
Radon in Drinking Water
Public Health Standards for Radon in Drinking Water
EPA’s proposal for public health standards for radon in drinking water provided two options to States and community water systems for reducing radon health risks in both drinking water and indoor air quality, a unique multimedia framework authorized in the 1996 Amendments to the Safewater Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Information about the proposed rule and information relating to the status of the rule can be found at: www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report on Radon in Drinking Water “Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water.”
A report released September 15, 1998, by the National Academy of Sciences is the most comprehensive accumulation of scientific data on the public health risks of radon in drinking water. The report was required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The NAS report (BEIR VI) issued earlier this year confirmed that radon is a serious public health threat. This report goes on to refine the risks of radon in drinking water and confirms that there are drinking water related cancer deaths, primarily due to lung cancer. The report, in general, confirms earlier EPA scientific conclusions and analyses for drinking water, and presents no major changes to EPA’s 1994 risk assessment.
For general information on radon in drinking water, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at (800) 426-4791. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline is open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Radon Links
