Radon is a colorless and odorless gas. It cannot be tasted, it cannot be seen and it does not have a smell or odor.
Radon gas has no colour, smell or taste and is completely imperceptible to humans, even in high concentrations.
If you think you've been exposed
Possible symptoms include shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you've been exposed to high levels of radon, it's very important to quit smoking.
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well- sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time.
The ONLY way to know if radon is present is to test. The Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988 directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to identify areas of the United States that have the potential to produce elevated levels of 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.
Breathing high levels of radon can put you at risk for lung cancer. To see if your house has dangerous levels of radon, you should test it. Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Radon levels inside houses below 4 pCi/L are considered acceptable.
Radon testing should be done by a professional and averages $419. You can DIY some of the testing with an average cost of $146, but it isn't advised. The average cost for radon testing ranges from $100 on the low end to $1,200 on the high end. This results in a national average cost of $419.
As radon naturally decays, it produces radioactive particles that get stuck in your lungs when you breathe. This causes damage to lung tissue and can lead to lung cancer after a prolonged period of time. The onset of lung cancer would usually occur years (10-20) after exposure.
The preferred method is to hang the kit centrally in the room. Use one kit per every 2000 square feet of floor space being tested. Test kits should be within the normal breathing zone (2 to 6 feet from the floor.)
Radon source control should be used first and foremost. However, a 2021 study found that a high-quality air purifier effectively reduces concentrations of attached radon decay products (DaRn) and unattached radon decay products (DuRn)8.
Indoor radon levels are normally at the highest in the winter or colder months because of the thermal stack effect, a snowy barrier, and tightly sealed homes. Cold temperatures increase the pressure within the home, meaning more air is being pulled in from the ground, which elevates the risk of radon entering the home.
Any home, school or building can have high-levels of radon, including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. With prolonged exposure, radon may pose a health hazard. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after tobacco use.
High humidity or water seepage can cause dampness that encourages the growth of mold and mildew. If your home smells moldy or musty and the smell intensifies in certain areas, this may indicate an issue with water seepage.
Testing is the only way to know if there are high levels of radon in your home. Radon testing can be completed by a radon tester or by using a do-it-yourself radon test kit from a hardware store.
Home insurance policies usually consider radon to be a maintenance issue, so they will not cover it. Radon is a naturally occurring gas, it is not considered to be a sudden event or the result of an accident, which is what most home insurance policies cover.
Building materials, the water supply, and natural gas can all be sources of radon in the home. Basements allow more opportunity for soil gas entry than slab-on-grade foundations. Showering and cooking can release radon into the air by aerosolizing household water (from a well) and burning natural gas.
New construction homes may be particularly susceptible, as the earth is disrupted during the building process, which can release more radon. Though new homes can be built with radon-resistant features to prevent radon entry, these homes should still be tested after you move in.
Symptoms and Causes
Testing the buildings that you live or work in is the only way to know if you're being exposed. Over time, the exposure can lead to lung cancer, which can cause symptoms like cough, coughing up bloody mucus, unexplained weight loss, chest pain or shortness of breath.
It's estimated that 1 in every 15 homes in the United States suffers from radon gas exposure. By that measure, it's very common--making the need for widespread radon testing and mitigation so important. Regardless of whether a home's basement is finished or unfinished, Radon will find its way inside.
Earth-based building materials such as solid stone materials, cast concrete, concrete masonry, brick, and adobe ordinarily are not significant sources of indoor radon.
Radon test kits are available from several sources. Free test kits are sometimes available from local or county health departments, or from state radon programs. The National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University has test kits available to purchase online or call 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).
Radon does not need to delay or prohibit a real estate transaction, but a home's radon level is information all parties should know, and radon problems can be easily fixed! Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues.