As designated by the EPA, January is National Radon Action Month. The intent of this program is to raise awareness about the serious, yet preventable, health risks associated with Radon exposure.
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is a byproduct in the decay chain of uranium. This odorless, colorless gas can seep from the ground and collect in enclosed spaces or water supplies. Due to a short half-life of only ~3.8 days, it breaks down quickly and deposits a trail of harmful radioactive particles in its wake. The Alpha-wave radiation from these particles cannot penetrate our skin or even a sheet of paper, so in general we are safe from it, unless we breathe it into our lungs or ingest it into our bodies through water. This is why Radon is so dangerous, as prolonged breathing of Radon gas allows these harmful elements to enter our bodies and long-term exposure has been proven to cause lung cancer.
Due to the substantial amount of uranium present in the soil in Colorado, the majority of our state is rated Zone 1 – the highest threat level by the EPA. Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) and the EPA recommends mitigation for levels above 4/0 pCi/l. Along the Front Range, it is not uncommon to see readings well above this level. Last year, one older multi-family property in Westminster tested at 47pCi/l in the seemingly well-ventilated basement apartment, more than 10x above the “Dangerous” level. The only way to detect Radon is to specifically test for it.
If you smoke, or spend time in an enclosed smoke-filled environment, the threat level can be greatly magnified as particulate in the air contributes to the ingestion of even more of the radioactive decay particles.
What Can You do About Radon?
Fortunately, Radon is generally easy to remove from a structure, through a process called mitigation. Radon mitigation contractors can utilize a series of equipment and techniques to seal a home and vent radon away into the outside air. The method of radon mitigation is well understood and this type of work is regulated, with contractors that are required to be trained, certified and in many states, licensed. Radon can be present in commercial buildings as well as homes, in both new and old structures.
Not All Tests Are The Same
The presence of Radon can be tested in several ways, typically over a period of at least 48 hours. We strongly recommend a radon test be performed during the purchasing process of any property and following the installation or repair of a Radon Mitigation system. Radon can be tested for in a number of ways, but when there may exist a conflict of interest, care must be taken to ensure the test is not invalidated by someone accidentally (or intentionally) altering the results. Common events which can affect accurate testing include opening windows (altering the typical enclosed conditions of a space) or in particularly unscrupulous cases, moving the testing equipment outdoors and returning it to the inside before the inspector retrieves the testing equipment.
Due to the seriousness of this health threat, at AFI we use only state-of-the-art, WIFI-enabled lab-connected Radalink AirCat™ testing meters which are routinely calibrated in a strictly controlled environment. These devices monitor not only Radon, but humidity, air flow and any actual movement of the meter itself. This is the only way to ensure accurate sampling in an uncontrolled environment. We believe that a serious life-safety concern such as Radon requires nothing less than the best protections the industry has to offer.
In the Denver metro area, a Radon mitigation system for a typical single-family home generally costs around $900-1400 and is a common condition of sale. Older homes with crawlspaces or larger properties may require additional methods and equipment, at increased cost.
Schedule a Radon Inspection from AFI during National Radon Action Month (January 2018) and receive $25 off the cost of your test! Please enter code "RADON2018" on your request.
If you have questions related to radon, feel free to comment below, give us a call or drop us an email. Additional information about Radon can be found here:
EPA (download) “Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes”