How Much Radon Is Dangerous - Seniorcare2share

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 much exposure to radon is harmful?

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 2.8 safe?

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. For perspective, the average outdoor air level of radon is 0.4 pCi/L.

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.

Is 1.5 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.

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 are the first signs of radon poisoning?

A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning. Persistent cough. Hoarseness. Wheezing. Shortness of breath. Coughing up blood. Chest pain. Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Loss of appetite.

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 2.2 high?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why do radon levels spike?

Radon gas is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas found in the soil. Some weather events, like storms, typically cause radon levels in a home to rise. Other events, like heavy winds, can cause radon levels to either rise or fall. Essentially, weather events can cause your radon levels levels to either rise or fall.

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’.

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.

Which states have the most radon?

Here are the 10 states with the highest Radon levels: Alaska (10.7) South Dakota (9.6) Pennsylvania (8.6) Ohio (7.8) Washington (7.5) Kentucky (7.4) Montana (7.4) Idaho (7.3).

Does keeping windows open help with radon?

Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Homes tend to have lower air pressure than their surroundings, which draws radon into the basement.

Can radon in your home make you sick?

You won’t have symptoms of radon poisoning right away. Instead, health problems from the exposure, such as lung cancer, show up after many years. Lung cancer may start as a nagging cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing that doesn’t go away.

Do air purifiers help with radon?

Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.