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Radon is a carcinogenic gas that is hazardous to inhale. Build-up of radon in
homes is a health concern and many lung cancer cases are attributed to radon
exposure each year. It is estimated that approximately 12% of lung cancers and more than 20,000 Americans die
of radon-related lung cancer each year.
(The distant second leading cause of death in America is drunk driving at 17,400 per year - you can protect yourself against radon - not drunk drivers)
You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your
home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting
lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that
radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.
If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer
is especially high.
Your family could be put at risk by this easy to detect and easy to mitigate hazard. Radon causes thousands of preventable deaths every year.
Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon
levels. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes
below the third floor for radon. If you find that you have high radon levels,
there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to
acceptable levels. Radon has been found in homes all over the United States. It
comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets
into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air
above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon
can also enter your home through well water. Your home can trap radon inside.
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed
and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your
family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is
where you spend most of your time. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United
States is estimated to have an elevated radon level.
Estimated elevated radon levels in home living areas in this area:
Monroe County: 2%
Wayne County: 8%
Ontario County: 10%
Livingston County: 16%
If your home has not yet been tested for Radon have a test taken as soon as
possible. If you can, test your home before putting it on the market. You
should test in the lowest level of the home which is suitable for occupancy.
This means testing in the lowest level that you currently live in or a lower
level not currently used, but which a buyer could use for living space without
renovations.
Does the home have a finished family room, playroom, or bedroom in the basement? Basement radon concentrations average between 2 to 3 times higher than first-floor concentrations.
Estimated elevated radon levels in basements in surrounding area:
Monroe County: 14%
Wayne County: 30%
Ontario County: 34%
Livingston County: 44%
Visit the official New York State Radon Site to view radon level maps and statistics: http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/radiological/radon/maps_statistics.htm
The radon test result is important information about your home's radon
level. Some states require radon measurement testers to follow a specific
testing protocol. If you do the test yourself, you should carefully follow the
testing protocol for your area or EPA's Radon Testing Checklist. If you hire a
contractor to test your residence, protect yourself by hiring a
qualified individual or company.
If you are thinking of selling your home and you have already tested your
home for radon, review the Radon Testing Checklist to make sure that
the test was done correctly. If so, provide your test results to the buyer.
No matter what kind of test you took, a potential buyer may ask for a new
test especially if:
- The Radon Testing Checklist items were not met;
- The last test is not recent, e.g., within two years;
- You have renovated or altered your home since you tested; or
- The buyer plans to live in a lower level of the house than was tested, such
as a basement suitable for occupancy but not currently lived in.
(Subtle interactions exist between all components in your home - simply installing new windows, or updating a furnace or water heater to a direct vent appliance can elevate radon levels above the threshold at which mitigation is recommended)
A buyer may also ask for a new test if your state or local government
requires disclosure of radon information to buyers.
Radon Myths and Facts
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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 and
inexpensive.
MYTH: Radon testing devices are not reliable and are
difficult to find.
FACT: Reliable testing devices are
available from qualified radon testers and companies.
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)..
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: 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.
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