second leading cause lung cancer USA? SafeHome Products Safety Quiz #1

WHAT IS RADON GAS?:

Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It can seep into your home without your knowledge from the earth. Without using sensitive test equipment, radon is almost impossible to detect. Radon threatens millions of people in the United States and around the world. Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in earth, rock and water. (The original NIH studies dealt with lung cancer among uranium miners.)

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of the Surgeon General recommend that all homes below the third floor be tested for radon. There are no immediate symptoms from exposure to radon. The risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer is higher for smokers.

HOW DO I LEARN IF MY HOME IS IN A HIGH RISK AREA?

The EPA considers areas with levels above 4pCi/L at high risk from radon. This includes most of the Northern half of the Continental United States. This includes Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, etc. Except for parts of the South and Southwest, the majority of the remainder of the States are considered at moderate risk, being in the 2 to 4 pCi/L range.

Link to EPA Map showing state by state and county-by-county Radon Risks.

If you are in a medium to high risk area, it is advised that you have your radon levels tested.

HOW DO I TEST FOR RADON AND WHAT LEVELS CONSTITUTE RISK?

There are two basic radon test methods.

The first, is a test vial opened and exposed for two days to three months depending upon the kit. The vial must be sealed and arrive within 24 hours at a commercial testing laboratory for analysis. The test vials cost around $30 each and around $12 to "read". The laboratory sends a report that gives the average radon level over the test period. The quick test is likely to read the highest in December and January when a home is generally sealed more tightly and lowest in the summer months.

The second test method is an electronic tester, designed to plug into an electrical outlet and continuously monitor radon levels.
Click here for pricing of the electronic radon detector.

While the test vial is an acceptable alternative, Safe Home Products sells only the electronic radon detector/monitor. The advantages of continual radon monitoring vastly outweighs the lower cost of the radon laboratory test kits.

The average indoor radon level is 1.3 Pico curies per liter (pCi/L) in the United States. The average outdoor level is less at about 0.4 pCi/L. Action should always be taken if your home radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher although radon levels below 4pCi/L still pose a risk. Typical corrective actions involve increasing the ventilation to the unsafe area. (Some lenders have special funds available to help you make necessary improvements to your home for radon reduction measures.)

Link to state contacts providing assistance in your area about Radon Risks.

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT MY EXPOSURE TO HIGH RADON LEVELS?

Your likelihood of exposure to high radon levels depends upon a number of factors ranging from the geology of the area where you live to how your house is constructed. Even if you live in an area known for low levels of radon, the construction of your home could be such that accumulation of those low radon concentrations over time result in high radon concentrations in your home.

A building has a vacuum effect on the ground upon which it sits. Typically the air pressure in your home is lower than the pressure in the soil surrounding your home’s foundation. So air is drawn from the soil beneath the foundation through cracks in the foundation and is mixed into the atmosphere within your home. Protecting your basement against ground water flooding with perimeter tile and a sump pit gives radon a direct route into your home.

HOW DO I GET A TRUE READING OF MY RISK FROM RADON?

Radon levels fluctuate because of many factors ranging from the opening and closing of doors and windows (ventilation) to the variation in out gassing from the ground itself. For example, a rainstorm can significantly increase the radon levels within a home. The typical two day standard canister test may not reflect the true average radon levels to which your family is exposed. Continuous monitoring compensates for variations, reflecting a true long-term average to which your family is exposed.

According to the National Institutes for Health, radon levels are the highest in well insulated, tightly sealed and / or houses build on uranium rich soil.

WHY MONITOR MY HOME WITH THE SAFETY SIREN RADON DETECTOR?

The SM-RAD-PRO2 Safety Siren™ Radon Detector (NEW), available here, has a 10 foot power cord, allowing user to locate detector away from walls, windows and doors. The detector needs 48 hours to collect adequate data for an accurate reading. Short-term readings display the average radon levels over the past 7 days. Long-term readings display the average radon levels since powered-up or last reset with a maximum reading time of 5 years.

An audible alarm is used to notify the end user of high radon levels. The EPA suggested limit of 4 pCi/L is the threshold at which the alarm begins to operate. The alarm will beep multiple times once per hour when the long term reading rises about this threshold. The buzzer can be turned off via a toggle switch. The detector’s memory can be reset so that the unit can be moved from location to location and be reused. The radon detector uses an ionization chamber sensor to detect radon gas.

WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK FROM USERS?

One of our first Safety Siren Radon Detector customers, a resident of New Jersey, shared that his basement tested below the 4 pCi/L level but his kitchen, built over a crawl space, read a 7. He ventilated out that crawl space and lowered the kitchen level to below a 4. He loaned his tester to a neighbor who was horrified that his house tested over 7pCi/L. We found it amazing to find a grown man so excited about a gas detector. This man wanted to tell the world what a great device the Radon Detector is.

I’M MOVING SOON. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

The Safety Siren™ Radon Gas Detector is the only residential detector on the market that gives you the freedom to check radon levels anywhere in your home at any time and give you a digital read-out. Many home buyers insist on a radon test prior to purchasing a new or used home. Some localities require the test.

If you are planning to sell your home, purchasing a Safety Siren Radon Detector could save money and possibly a lost or postponed home sale. The primary ways to mitigate radon problems are by sealing and by ventilation methods. Most "handy" homeowners can seal foundation cracks according to suggested remediation procedures. With a Safety Siren Radon monitor, the homeowner can learn what effect the sealing had on the level and then investigate other options if necessary. Click here for Radon Fix It ideas.

If you are planning to move soon, consider taking your Safety Siren Radon Detector with you so you can test your new dwelling. To determine your current and future degree of risk from radon gas, first locate your state then county on the EPA’s USA Radon map.

ADVICE TO CHECK LOCAL REGULATIONS

Each municipality or State may have its own regulations regarding radon and radon testing in conjunction with a home sale. You may need to use an electronic tester to implement radon remediation techniques, then follow up with a canister test which is sent to a government certified laboratory as part of the formal documentation procedure.