Safety
AROUND YOUR HOME

Have you tested your home for radon?

Bill Campbell

Not all indoor air pollutants have immediately noticeable effects. One that can take years from the time of exposure until symptoms associated with lung cancer appear is radon gas. This month, I would like to discuss how radon gas is formed, how to test your home, and who you should call if you have questions about high radon levels.

Radon gas is a natural product in the decay of uranium 238. There are small amounts of uranium in almost all soils in the world, rocks, well water, building materials, and natural gas. As uranium 238 decays over about 4.5 billion years, it becomes radium 226, which takes about 1,600 years to decay to radon. Radon is a gas that decays in only about four days, but continued decay of uranium constantly replenishes the level of radon in the soil. What does this mean to you? If the soils around your home or your building materials contain even low amounts of uranium, the decay product, radon, may be seeping into your basement, crawl-space, or lower level of your home.

The amount that enters your home may be affected by poorly designed home ventilation systems. If your system causes a suction (negative pressure) in your basement or crawl-space when it is running, it could be drawing radon gas into your home from the surrounding soil.

You can't see, hear, or smell radon gas. The only way to determine if your home has high levels is to test for radon. There are three types of tests available. The simplest, an activated carbon short-term (2-5 day) detector, can be performed by homeowners. These kits can be purchased at most hardware and home supply stores for around $15 and must be sent away for analysis. You do need to follow the directions carefully to ensure accurate results from the test. In general, you need to place the detector on the lowest lived-in level of the home. Try to keep it away from ventilation ducts, drafts, windows, bathrooms, and holes in basement floors. You should conduct the test with all doors and windows closed to prevent dilution of radon to the outdoors. A good time to test is during the winter months so you can record your home's worst conditions.

If the short-term test reveals possible problems, you should consider either professional monitoring or a long-term (90 days-1 year) test to get a more reliable reading.

What are high levels? The current threshold for radon exposure in homes is 4 picoCuries per liter of air. At this level, it is estimated that two non-smoking people out of 1,000 could develop lung cancer if exposed to radon for their entire life. At that same level, 29 smokers could develop lung cancer. Radon gas particles are attracted to smoke particles and carried into the lungs.

Homes with high radon levels usually can be repaired for between $500 and $2,500 depending on the type of repair required. Most of the time, these repairs add value to the homes affected.

I have several good publications about radon and its control. If you drop me a line, I'll send you the information. I also would suggest that you contact the state radon contact person. In Illinois, the number is (800) 325-1245. You may wish to request the following guides: Home Buyer's and Sellers Guide to Radon, Radon in Schools, Radon: a Physicians Guide, Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction, and Technical Support Document.

Bill Campbell is an Extension Educator, Farm Systems, at the Springfield Extension Center, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois. You can write to him in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515. E-Mail: campbellw@idea.ag.uiuc.edu

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING FEBRUARY 1997