Testing Indoor Air Quality for Radon Gas:
Determining this Risk Exposure is as Important as a Mold Inspection
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
Similar to a black mold inspection, testing for the risk exposure potential due to radon gas
is critical. By installing a radon test unit, you can protect your family.
There exist many visible and barely visible quiet and potential assassins in homes today. A lot of
homeowners are responsible about contracting for a mold evaluation after the home floods. Hurricane
Katrina was a wake-up call.
However, not all homeowners are aware about the necessity of interior
air quality testing for radon gas.
Exactly What is Radon Gas?
Radon gas is actually a radioactive, invisible toxic vapor resulting from a natural process, the
radioactive breakdown of the uranium isotope. Most folks think that uranium is just present in things
like nuclear medicine and nuclear weapon production. But that would be incorrect.
Why? Because it’s also present in rocks, water, soil, and air. As a result, it’s also present
in residences. Lung cancer studies have demonstrated that radon gas is can contribute to cancer, and like
with asbestos in the home, the risk is especially
high for smokers.
What Method Can You Use to See if this Carcinogenic Gas is Present?
Actually, Radon testing is available in 2 forms -- The first is short-term testing and the second is
long-term testing. If you elect to go short-term, the gas testing equipment is set up and stays in your
home for a period of 2 - 90 days. Well, which one should you use? The US government likes to recommend
starting with the short-term variety. It might be in charcoal canister form, an alpha track, an
electret ion chamber, or a similar device.
 
There are also 2 ways to get the testing done, with a DIY kit or
hire a qualified tester.
After the testing results come back, a second short-term test will usually be required in the case that
the first test result comes in at 4 pCi/L or higher.
How about long-term radon air quality testing? This is used when the test period exceeds a 90-day
period. Why would you use this one? This is usually used when the homeowner wants to get a bit
more comprehensive idea of what the home’s level is on a year-round basis.
This radon test equipment is also available in alpha track form or as an electret device.
What are Realistic Radon Test Result Ranges?
You can expect interior gas test results to come in at 1.3 pCi/L on the average. The exterior
average is realistically 0.4 pCi/L. The eventual goal of the U.S. Congress is for the general
population to lower the home’s interior radon gas level to be equivalent with the exterior average.
This may sound like a pie-in-the-sky scenario with current remedial efforts, but many of the homes
that are currently way above the average should be able to be reduced down to 2 pCi/L; a solid
step in the right direction.
Sources of Household Radon and How You Can Achieve Radon Safety
There are 2 primary ways that radon gas can enter your home. Through tap water and via the soil; soil
being the method that carries a higher risk.
 
Your risk of exposure from your water supply comes via 2 routes; inhalation and ingestion.
But here’s an interesting observation; Surface water is generally not much associated with radon
entering the home but should not be disregarded; it should still be tested.
Chances are far more probable that it will enter in ground water originating from
a well on the property or some similar source. Point-of-use water treatment units will go far in
abating the problem.
Install a Radon Fan
One excellent method of removing radon gas from your home is to install a radon fan. This is a kind
of
basement ventilation system,
handy if your home is configured that way. When combined with your
vent pipe system, it will exhaust gas from the lowest points in your home.
It then vents it to the outside of your home. This arrangement is known as a soil suction radon
reduction system. That’s a mouthful.
Testing as a Help in Selling a Home
Are you planning to list your home with a realtor in the near future? If so, it would be a feather in
your cap to employ radon test equipment right away to determine the home’s risk factor. Then be sure to
document your results.
This same logic goes for a documented mold inspection too. As time goes on, more prospective home
buyers are looking for this information.
|
