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Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
How bad is a radon level of 10?
Radon Risk If You Smoke Radon Level If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime* 20 pCi/L About 260 people could get lung cancer 10 pCi/L About 150 people could get lung cancer 8 pCi/L About 120 people could get lung cancer 4 pCi/L About 62 people could get lung cancer.
Is a radon level of 5 bad?
The only safe level of radon is zero. Radon levels measure in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous to your health, and you need to take action against radon if your levels are higher than 4 pCi/L.
Is 2.5 a safe radon level?
According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0. Professional mitigation is the only reliable way to reduce elevated radon readings.
What is normal radon levels at home?
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air.
Should I walk away from a house with radon?
Should you walk away from the deal? Consumer Reports says you don’t have to. Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home.
What time of year is radon highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Is radon 5.7 Bad?
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
What is a safe level of radon UK?
There is no known “safe” level of radon, but the lower the concentration you are exposed to, the lower the risk to your health. Current advice from Public Health England is that “for levels below 100 Bq/m3, your individual risk remains relatively low and not a cause for concern.
How do you eliminate radon?
Other radon reduction techniques that can be used in any type of home include: sealing, house or room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation and natural ventilation. Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction.
Is radon level 2.1 safe?
Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.
Is a radon level of 2.7 safe?
A “safe” level of radon listed by the WHO is anything under 2.7 pCi/L while the EPA lists anything under 4.0 pCi/L. At these levels or higher, a mitigation system is strongly suggested. In fact, radon is the primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of all lung cancer diagnosis’.
How long does it take for radon to affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.
Will opening the basement windows before a radon test lower the results?
Unfortunately, no, opening the windows does not reduce radon. It is not a gas that will just permanently escape the home like smoke from something burning in the oven. The radon may seem to leave when the windows are open, but as soon as they are closed, it is back.
How accurate are radon tests?
“Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time.” ScienceDaily.
Does a dehumidifier help with radon?
Strictly speaking, a dehumidifier will not have much effect on the radon concentration in a home’s air.
Is radon a deal breaker?
So what is radon gas? You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the presence of radon in your home doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
Where is the best place to put a radon test?
Place a radon detector in the breathing zone, 2-6 feet above the floor, and away from drafts, exterior walls, sumps, drains, windows or doors. Radon may enter a building through cracks in the foundation or through sumps or drains and will usually be higher near these entry points.
Where is radon found in homes?
It sometimes gets concentrated in homes built on soil with natural uranium deposits. It can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls, construction joints, or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space.
