Walden University PUBH 6165-7 Spring 2009 Jonjalyn Baskin Walden University PUBH 6165-7 Spring 2009

Radon: Is Your Home Putting Your Health at Risk?

Educational Goals Increase knowledge of the hazards of radon among Loudoun County residents in Northern Virginia Increase the number of homes with radon detectors in Loudoun County Increase the number of homes tested for radon in Loudoun County The educational goals for this presentation are increasing knowledge of the hazards of radon, increasing the number of homes with radon detectors and the number of homes tested for radon in Loudoun County.

What is Radon? Rock Water Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless and radioactive gas produced from the decay of uranium in soil, rock and water (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009). Soil Rock Water Radon is an invisible, tasteless and odorless gas. It is also a radioactive gas that is found in soil, rock and water depending on geological location. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

Health Risk As radon decay it gives off radioactive particles. These particles can damage the cells that line the lungs (National Cancer Institute, 2004). Long-term exposure and the inhalation of high levels of radon can increase the risk of developing lung cancer (NCI, 2004). Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (EPA, 2009). The Surgeon General of the United States issued a HeRadon pose a health risk because the radioactive particles it emits can damage the cells in the lungs. This is especially true for people exposed over long periods of time or for people exposed to high quantities of radon. People who smoke are at a high risk for lung cancer because radon is a carcinogen, it causes lung cancer as does cigarettes. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html National Cancer Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer: Questions and answers. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheets/Risk/radon

Health Risk Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers (EPA, 2008). Radon is the second leading cause of all lung cancer but is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Of the 21,000 yearly deaths, 2, 900 occur among individuals that never smoked. This provides another explanation to the question, How do people who don’t smoke get lung cancer? The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of lung cancer cases are attributable to radon. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Health risks: Exposure to radon causes lung cancer in non-smokers and smokers alike. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

Radon in Homes The greatest risk of exposure is most likely to occur in the home, particularly in the basement and on the first floor (NCI, 2004). Radon seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air (NCI, 2004). Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and accumulates indoors (EPA, 2009). Radon can also enter the home through water providing it is present in well water and building materials such as granite and some concrete products (EPA, 2008). People are more likely to be exposed to radon indoors where it accumulates after seeping up through the ground and diffusing into the air through cracks in the floors, walls or foundation. Radon can also enter the home when water is used for showering or other household use if it is present in well water. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction. Retrieved April 3, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html#For%Further%20Information National Cancer Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer: Questions and answers. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheets/Risk/radon

Radon in Homes Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States have elevated radon levels (EPA, 2009). The quantity of radon is measured in “picocuries per liter of air” or “pCi/L” (EPA, 2009). The national average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L (Loudoun County Radon Information, n.d.). The average indoor radon level in Loudoun County, is 4.7 pCi/L (LCRI, n.d.). Here we see a tremendous difference between the national average indoor radon level which is 1.3 pCi/L and the average indoor radon level in Loudoun County which is 4.7 pCi/L. Looking at this data it becomes apparent that testing and mitigation are necessary for Loudoun County homes. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html Loudoun County Radon Information. www.county-radon.info/VA/Loudoun.html

Radon Levels for Loudoun County Homes This slide here further substantiate the need for radon testing in Loudoun County. Here we see that 36% of homes have radon levels of at least 4 pCi/L and 22% have levels between 2 and 3.9 pCi/L. It’s important to note and understand that any level of radon can pose a health risk. Reference Loudoun County Radon Information. www.county-radon.info/VA/Loudoun.html

The United States Surgeon General Health Advisory The United States Surgeon General issued a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air. He urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they are exposed to. He stressed the need to mitigate the problem immediately should the radon level reach 4 pCi/L (EPA, 2008). Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Health Risks: Exposure to radon causes lung cancer in non-smokers and smokers alike. Retrieved April 11, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisk.html

National Safety Council The National Safety Council offers short-term and long-term radon test kits that can be purchased over the phone by calling 1-800-557-2366. $15 short-term radon detection coupon $25 long-term radon detection coupon www.downloads.nsc.org/pdf/Coupon2008.pdf While it is recommended that you hire a qualified contractor to reduce radon levels in your home, you can test the home yourself using either a short-term or long-term radon detection test kit. These kits can be purchased from the National Safety Council and you can download coupons from their website. You can also purchase kits from the local home improvement or hardware store. The Surgeon general of the United States urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they are exposed to and expressed mitigating the problem immediately if the level is 4 pCi/L or higher.

Short-term Testing Short-term tests remain in the home for two to 90 days. The tests commonly used for short-term testing include: Charcoal canisters Alpha track Electret ion chamber Continuous monitors Charcoal liquid scintillation When performing a short-term test you have many options to choice from. There are actually more options than what’s listed here but these are the commonly used tests. One disadvantage for using short-term tests is they don’t reflect the year round average of radon level in the home. This is because radon levels can vary from day to day and season to season. So if you want to measure the yearly radon level in your home then you should consider using a long-term test. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

Long-term Testing Long-term testing remain in the home for more than 90 days. The tests commonly used for long-term testing include: Alpha track Electret detectors Here are the two commonly used long-term test. Again, they are more likely to reflect the year round average radon level because the device remains in the home over a longer period of time. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

Recommendations EPA and CDC recommend taking actions to reduce radon in homes when levels reach 4 pCi/L (EPA, 2009). EPA also recommend taking actions to reduce exposure when levels are between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L (EPA, 2009). EPA recommends hiring a qualified radon mitigation contractor to fix your home because reducing radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills (EPA, 2009). The Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend reducing radon when levels reach 4pCi/L. Because no quantity of radon is considered safe, the EPA also recommends reducing levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. The United States Congress also recognize the risk associated with lower levels which is why they set a long-term goal to reduce the indoor radon levels to that of the outdoor level of 0.4 pCi/L. Because reducing radon levels requires special skills and training, the EPA suggest using a qualified contractor. Attempting to mitigate the problem yourself can result in other hazardous outcomes. Information about qualified contractors will be provided in this presentation. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Radon facts. Retrieved April 4, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram

Radon Reduction Methods Sealing cracks and openings in the foundation helps to limit the flow of radon into the homes (EPA, 2008). House/room pressurization creates pressure at the lowest level in the home to prevent radon from entering the rest of the home (EPA, 2008). Heat recovery ventilator increase ventilation which helps reduce the radon levels in the home (EPA, 2008). If the short-term or long-term tests indicate high radon levels in the home then it’s critical to reduce exposure in order to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Here are some reduction methods. Now these aren’t the only methods and it’s possible that contractors may use other methods based on the design of the home. While sealing openings in the foundation limits the amount of radon that can enter the home this should not be the only method used. This method makes the other methods more effective. Creating pressure in the lowest level in the home which is usually the basement in Loudoun County prevents the gas from circulating to other areas in the home. Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction. Retrieved April 3, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html#For%Further%20Information

Radon Reduction Methods continued Natural ventilation temporarily reduce levels by opening windows, doors and vents (EPA, 2008). Soil suction prevents radon from entering the home by using a pipe or pipes to drawing radon from below the house to the air above the house where it is quickly diluted (EPA, 2008). One reduction method that is easy enough to utilize is natural ventilation. These method simply requires opening your windows, doors and vents to temporarily reduce radon levels in the home. The levels return to previous levels within 12 hours. So this definitely can not be the primary method. As stated earlier in the presentation, radon is formed when uranium decays in the soil. Soil is the main source of radon exposure in homes. Soil suction draws radon from below the house and release it into the air surrounding the house. Once the radon is in the air it is quickly diluted. The decision to use this method will depend on the concentration of uranium beneath the home. Some radon reduction systems/methods can reduce radon in the home by up to 99% Reference Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction. Retrieved April 3, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html#For%Further%20Information

Conclusion Radon levels in Loudoun County homes exceed the national radon indoor level. Residents of Loudoun County are encouraged to utilize radon detectors and test radon levels in their homes. Some radon reduction systems and methods can reduce radon in the home by up to 99%. Reducing radon exposure is especially important for smokers as they have a high risk of developing lung cancer.

Purchase a radon detector and test kit today. Don’t hesitate to find out whether your home is putting you health at risk. Protect yourself and your love ones. Purchase a radon detector and test kit today.

Virginia Indoor Radon Program Jim deKrafft, Radon Coordinator General number: (804) 864-8161 or 1 (800) 468-0138 Fax number: (804) 864-8165 Email: jim.dekrafft@vdh.virginia.gov Secondary contact: Ryan Paris Email: Ryan.Paris@vdh.virginia.gov The Virginia Indoor Radon Program provide technical assist and educational materials regarding indoor radon to the general public. They also maintain a list of companies that are certified to screen or test for radon and a list of contractors for mitigation.

Radon Specialists in Loudoun County National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Certified Radon Measurement Specialists Company: National Academy of Building Sciences, Inc. City: Purcellville County: Loudoun Inspectors: John L. Cooper and Faith O. Cooper Phone: (540) 338-2922 Here is the information for the radon specialists in Loudoun County certified by the National Environmental Health Association..

National Radon Programs National Environmental Health Association-National Radon Proficiency Program (NEHA-NRPP) www.neha-nrpp.org/measurement_method_definitions.shtml National Radon Safety Board www.nrsb.org National Radon Information line 1-800-SOS-RADON 1-800-767-7236 To locate other qualified radon professionals and laboratory services contact these programs.

References Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). A citizen’s guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks/html Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Radon facts. Retrieved April 4, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Health risks: Exposure to radon causes lung cancer in non-smokers and smokers alike. Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html

References continued Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction. Retrieved April 3, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html#For%Further%20Information Loudoun County Radon Information. www.county-radon.info/VA/Loudoun.html National Cancer Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer: Questions and answers. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheets/Risk/radon