QA

Question: What Is A High Radon Level In Homes

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. The EPA estimates that a radon removal system costs about $1,200 for an average house.

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.

Is 3.6 radon bad?

Long-term radon testing revealed that the radon level near our countertops is very low but the level in the basement is 3.6 picocuries per liter. The EPA also says that radon levels below that can still pose a health risk and recommends that you consider remediation when the level is above 2 and under 4 pCi/L.

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.

Should you 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.

Does a dehumidifier help with radon?

No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.

What is a good radon reading?

What constitutes an acceptable or 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.

What is a safe radon reading?

EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. 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.

What number of radon is bad?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that measurements of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher are considered dangerous levels. This radon level is largely unsafe and is 10 times higher² than the average outdoor air levels.

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 8 bad?

In high radon areas, if the average level is higher than 4-8 pCi/liter (NCRP recommended level is 8 pCi/liter; EPA recommended level is 4 pCi/liter), appropriate action is advised. However, no compelling evidence for increased cancer risks has yet been demonstrated from “acceptable” levels (< 4-8 pCi/liter).

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.

Does radon give you a headache?

The only known health effect of radon is an increased risk of lung cancer. Radon does not cause any warning symptoms like headaches, nausea, fatigue, or skin rashes. If you are suffering from those symptoms or other physical ailments, you should consult your physician.

What are symptoms 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.

Are radon detectors accurate?

The National Radon Safety Board evaluates radon measurement devices in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency. It requires that the individual relative error of each device be less than or equal to 20.0% and that the precision error of all devices be less than or equal to 20.0%.

Does running HVAC reduce radon?

Based on the results it was concluded that an active ventilation system successfully reduces radon.

How much radon is too high?

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. The EPA estimates that a radon removal system costs about $1,200 for an average house.