Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Radiation Program
Radon Outreach
Frequently asked questions about radon
Question:
What is radon and where does it come from?
Answer:
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It has no color, odor or taste
and is chemically inert. It comes from the breakdown of uranium. As the
uranium molecule decays to form stable lead, a process taking many, many
years, it changes from one radioactive element to another in a sequence
known as the Uranium Decay Cycle. Partway through this cycle, the element
radium becomes radon which as a gas moves up through the soil to the atmosphere.
Question: Is radon a problem in
Colorado?
Answer: Excessive
radon levels have been found in all of the 50 states. In Colorado,
approximately 50% of the homes have radon levels in excess of the EPA recommended action level of
4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L).
Question: How can radon damage my
health?
Answer: Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer
deaths per year. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only
smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
Question: How is radon risk determined?
Answer: The risk
factors for radon exposure were developed from epidemiological studies of underground miners exposed to
radon. Because the studies collected data from human adult males rather than from animal
subjects, they have a higher confidence level than is applied to toxicological studies.
The Surgeon General, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Academy of Sciences, the
American Medical
Association, the
American Lung Association and the
World Health Organization have all
identified indoor radon as a national health problem.
Question: How does radon get into
my home?
Answer: Radon moves
from uranium-bearing granite deposits in the soil to the atmosphere because there is a lower
concentration of radon in the atmosphere than in the soil. Your home is sited in its path
and because the house is usually warmer than the surrounding soil, the air pressure is
less and soil gases, including radon, move into the home. The most common routes are:
-
Spaces between basement walls
and slab
-
Cracks in foundations and/or
walls
-
Openings around sump pumps
and drains
-
Construction joints and plumbing penetrations
-
Crawl spaces
-
Using well water
with high radon concentrations
Question: My house is new (old)
so it shouldn't have a problem, right?
Answer: The age of a
home is not a factor when it comes to whether excessive levels of radon are present.
Question: My neighbor tested and
did not find a radon problem so my home should be OK, right?
Answer:
FALSE. Every home pulls air into it differently depending on the daily
routines of the homeowner. Also, soils and geology underlying the
foundation of a home may vary drastically from one home to another. We
recommend ALL homes in Colorado be tested, regardless of surrounding
results.
Question: How do I know if my
home has a radon problem?
Answer: Test for
radon.
Question: Does the State do radon
testing?
Answer: No, the State
does not compete with private industry; we provide information and advice only.
Question: I am renting a house
(apartment) and am concerned about radon. Does my landlord have to test for radon if I ask
him?
Answer: No, there is no legal requirement in Colorado for the
landlord to test. You will
have to do it yourself unless you can persuade him/her to test. EPA
has a renters guide for tenants.
Question: I tested my rental home
(apartment) and the radon reading was high, is my landlord required to "fix"
this problem?
Answer: No, there is
no legal requirement in Colorado for him/her to mitigate the radon level.
Question: Where can we get a
radon test kit?
Answer: There are many kinds of low cost "do it yourself" radon
test kits which may be purchased from your local home improvement store.
Be sure the kit says "certified by the
National Environmental Health
Association (NEHA)." You can also
get coupons for test kits on our
website.
Question: How much do the radon test kits cost?
Answer: In retail
outlets, test kits range from $10 - $50.
Question: Are the 'Do-It-Yourself' test kits as
accurate as those used by those persons I could hire to do the testing for me?
Answer: YES, if you
use a kit that meets National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) requirements, follow the instructions on the label exactly
and return it to the lab promptly as directed.
Question: What is the difference between long-
and short-term tests?
Answer: Short-term
tests take 48 - 120 hours to complete. The house is closed for 12 hours, then the testing
device is activated or opened and left in place for 48 hours or more. Charcoal
canisters are the device of choice although electronic instruments may be used.
Long-term
tests take 91 days - 1 year to complete and are conducted with the house
under normal
living conditions. Alpha track detectors or electronic detection instruments are used.
Long-term test results give
a more representative picture of the true radon levels in the home over time as
fluctuations due to changes in ambient temperature and barometric pressure are detected
and factored into the final average.
Question: Which floor is best for testing radon
levels?
Answer: It depends if you are testing your home for a real estate transaction or for your
own purposes. The recommendations are different for the two cases. If you are testing to
determine if your home has radon levels warranting mitigation, the EPA recommends testing
in the lowest living area of your home. For a real estate transaction, EPA recommends
testing in the lowest area which could be modified to become a living area.
Question: I'm closing on a house and need a
radon measurement test result quickly. How do I accomplish this?
Answer: A list of National Environmental Health
Association (NEHA) listed radon measurement contractors is available on this website. These contractors will use either a continuous monitor, which will permit them
to give you test results at the end of the test period, or some other short term
measurement device, which can be read at a lab and the value reported in short order.
Question: My family has been ill since we moved
into this house and we think radon is the cause, what can we do?
Answer: The only
proven health effect caused by breathing radon is the development of lung cancer after
years of exposure. You may have a radon problem, but the only way to know is to
test your home. Radon is not what is causing your symptoms. It is
possible that your home has other indoor air quality issues (i.e., mold,
volatile organic compounds, allergens, etc.).
Question: I have a high radon reading in my
home. How do I get it fixed?
Answer: The method of
choice is usually a sub-slab (or if you have a crawl space, sub-membrane) depressurization
system.
Contact a National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
certified radon contractor to bid on the job. He/she will be able to tell you if
your home requires a different approach. Most don't.
Question: How much does it cost to have a home
remediated (fixed)?
Answer: The cost of a
mitigation system in Colorado is approximately $800 - $1,200 unless aggregate or difficult
foundation design problems are encountered.
Question: Can you recommend a contractor?
Answer: The Division can supply
you with a list of National
Environmental Health Association (NEHA) certified radon mitigation contractors
that have passed the National Radon Contractor Proficiency
Examination. We recommend you call
several of them and get estimates for the mitigation.
Question: Is sub-slab depressurization
(the most
effective technological solution) something I can do myself?
Answer: Perhaps, if
you have good handy-man skills including electrical wiring skills. If you are unsure, it
would be advisable to get an evaluation from one of the
National
Environmental Health Association (NEHA) certified contractors before you
decide. Look for Doug Kladder's "Protecting Your Home From Radon - A
Step-by-Step Manual for Radon Reduction" at your local library.
Question: Could I seal and caulk only, and hope
it would be enough to correct the problem?
Answer: No. While
caulking and sealing is done as part of the mitigation process, the purpose is not to keep
radon out but to hold conditioned air in the dwelling. It is impossible to seal
all cracks and the task is time-consuming, expensive and temporary (dries out
over time), so this procedure is not recommended as a stand-alone technique.
Question: Should I have my water tested for
radon?
Answer: If you have tested the air in your home and found a radon
problem and your water comes from a private well, you should test the water.
Water testing is available from the
Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment's Laboratory Services Division.
Question: Is radon a problem in drinking water
supplies?
Answer: Generally,
radon is not a problem with public drinking water systems because during the water
treatment process aeration releases dissolved radon to the atmosphere. However, if the
water supply is from a private well, radon levels could be unacceptably high. The
recommendation is to test the well water if the air radon concentrations in the occupied
dwelling are above 4 pCi/L.
Question: I am performing an Environmental Site
Assessment and need to know the radon level/risk for this property. Do
you have information that can help me?
Answer: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
has been collecting data on test results in Colorado homes since 2005.
You may request the data by contacting the Radon Program at 303-692-3442 or
1-800-846-3986.
Question: Is radon a problem in schools?
Answer: Schools are
at risk from radon just as homes are. Colorado statute requires all schools to have tested
for radon, and to maintain records of the test results for disclosure on request. The
regulation does not require schools that find a problem to mitigate. It is
up to the District and its constituents to address mitigation issues.
Further information on radon
in schools can be found in the EPA Radon
Publication Radon in Schools
.
|
