Radon Gas Test

As homeowners, we take many precautions to protect our families. We put up fences around pools, use smoke detectors and home alarms; we fix hazardous areas in and around our home or yard. But what you don’t know is that there is a dangerous chemical that is present in many homes, which most people have never heard of, let alone tested their property for the presence of this chemical. The gas is called radon, and it is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. We are all exposed to it everyday in small amounts, but when it is present at elevated levels it has devastating health effects.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon is responsible for causing up to 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, which makes it a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. Radon gas not only exposes people to external radiation, but is breathed into the lungs where it can directly damage the bronchial tubes. The National Institute of Health has also found a correlation between high radon levels and an increased incidence of childhood cancer. While there is no ‘safe’ threshold of radon exposure, the EPA publishes guidelines for determining what constitutes a dangerous level. Any amount over 4 pCi/L (pico-curies per liter of air) of radon gas is considered serious and requires action to reduce exposure. At this level, a family is experiencing radiation exposure that is almost 35 times the allowable safe level as established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Because radon originates in soil and rocks, it can leak into homes in a variety of ways; through cracks in the foundation or low-level windows, or even through contaminated well water. Some building materials, particularly granite, also release radon, though these amounts are minute. Radon is a ‘heavy’ gas, which means that it tends to concentrate at lower levels. Those who live or sleep in the bottom level of homes or apartment/condo buildings are most at risk. Both old and new homes are equally susceptible to radon gas leaks. You may be surprised to hear that, in fact, new homes often contain higher concentrations of radon gas because of their superior insulation and more tightly sealed doors and windows. Once radon is in the home, and cannot escape it becomes more and more concentrated over time.

How do you know if your home has radon gas? The bad news is that radon gas is odorless, colorless and cannot be detected by any means but testing with specific instruments. The good news, however, is that there are many inexpensive ways to test for radon. You can either buy a home testing kit or detector, or hire a professional home inspection company to come and test for you. There are advantages and disadvantages unique to each option.

Home testing kits are an inexpensive and simple way to test the level of radon in your home. The most commonly used type is a passive charcoal test. The test kit, generally a bag or box, is opened and left in the lowest level of the house for a specified period of time during which the charcoal absorbs chemical gasses. Afterwards, the test will be sent to a laboratory, where a technician is able to separate out the various components to obtain a radon level. Passive testing kits are the least expensive way to obtain radon gas levels.

Home radon detectors, which function much the same as a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector, are another option for testing on your own. They are more expensive, but provide a constant or periodic reading, which gives you a more complete picture of the average radon level in your home. Both types of home kits can be purchased through building supply or home inspection companies.

If you prefer to have someone else conduct a radon inspection for you, many home inspection companies offer this service. The advantage is that you will know that the test is being correctly performed and you will have someone to go to with questions and concerns. Should the inspection uncover problems, the inspector can give you advice on corrective actions that you might consider to reduce your radon exposure. Obviously, cost is the biggest disadvantage, as this is the most expensive test. You might consider doing a home test first and then if radon is detected, consult with a radon detection professional.

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