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Based on the potential for cancer, the EPA suggests that indoor air should not exceed 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA and various states have recommended drinking water standards for radon in water ranging from 300 to 10,000 pCi/L but no standard currently exists.
Can radon be in your drinking water?
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that may cause cancer, and may be found in drinking water and indoor air. Some people who are exposed to radon in drinking water may have increased risk of getting cancer over the course of their lifetime, especially lung cancer.
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 percentage of radon is safe?
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 remove radon from drinking water?
Radon can be removed from water by one of two methods: Aeration treatment – spraying water or mixing it with air and then venting the air from the water before use, or. GAC treatment – filtering water through granular activated carbon. Radon attaches to the carbon and leaves the water free of radon.
Does RO remove radon?
Reverse osmosis does not remove gaseous contaminants such as carbon dioxide and radon.
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 1.5 radon safe?
The EPA strongly recommends radon mitigation if your radon levels are above 4 pCi/L, though radon levels below 4 still pose a health risk. They recommend you consider mitigation if your radon levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L. They are quick to point out that there is no known safe level of radon.
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.
Are low levels of radon safe?
However, EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk—no level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
Where is radon most common?
Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor. Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour.
What is a low level of radon?
Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and, in many cases, may be reduced. Take steps to prevent device interference when conducting a radon test. EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.
How do you test for radon in well water?
Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) which can provide phone numbers for your State laboratory certification office. Your State laboratory certification office or State radon office can direct you to laboratories which may be able to test your drinking water for radon.
Do water softeners remove radon?
The best method for removing radon from the water is an aeration system. An aeration system is typically installed next to the well tank where your water supply first enters the house. The aeration system is installed after other water conditioners such as a water softener or neutralizer.
What happens if you drink water with uranium?
Most ingested uranium is eliminated from the body. However, a small amount is absorbed and carried through the bloodstream. Studies show that drinking water with elevated levels of uranium can affect the kidneys over time.
Does a charcoal filter remove radon?
The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter. Carbon, which is often referred to as “charcoal,” is a substance that has a long history of being used to remove chemical impurities.
Do carbon water filters remove radon?
Radon is easily removed by aeration, since it is a gas. Carbon filtration is also very effective in removing radon.
Is radon found in soil?
Radon is constantly being generated by the radium in rocks, soil, water and materials derived from rocks and soils, such as certain building materials. Radium is a decay product of uranium which is naturally occurring in the soils and rocks of the earth’s crust.
