Radon in Your Home Presenter information here 4/2014

Learning Objectives  Knowledge: Origin of Radon & Health Risk.  Comprehension: Influences of radon entry into homes.  Application: Options for testing and mitigation.

A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon

 Naturally occurring  Radioactive gas  Colorless  Odorless “ Radon What Is It?

Radon 3.8 days Radium 1,620 years Uranium 4.47 million years Lead Polonium Bismuth Radon – radioactive gas

Radon Measurement  Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). While no level of radon exposure is considered safe, EPA has set an action level at 4 pCi/L  1 picoCurie is equal to radioactive disintegrations per second  According to EPA, if levels are at or above 4 pCi/L, the home should be mitigated  take precautionary actions between 2-4 pCi/L

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers claiming approximately 21,000 lives annually. Radon Health Concern

Inhalation of Radon Decay Products AlphaParticle Radiation Damage to DNA Radon Causes Lung Cancer

Radon - A Physician's Guide: The Health Threat With A Simple Solution

Radon and Children  Children have smaller lungs and therefore higher breathing rates.  Children spend up to 70% more time indoors than adults on average.  According to the U.S. EPA, 1 in 5 schools has at least one schoolroom with a radon level that exceeds the recommended level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Children are more susceptible to effects of radon.

Radon in soil and rocks under and adjacent to buildings, migrates through foundations, cracks and small openings and concentrates inside buildings. Well Water Building Materials

Radon & Granite Countertops ? Not an Issue.

What are the radon levels in your community?

Testing is the only way to know the radon level of a building. Residential Construction Team

short-term/charcoal 3-7 day test long-term/alpha track 3 months to a year test DIY Radon Test Kits

DIY Testing - FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS  Kit Instructions Vary – follow instructions!  12-hour closed-house for 2-7 day test  Place in Lowest “lived-in” area  Place midlevel from floor & ceiling  Out of air flow (ductwork and fans)  Out of kitchen and bathroom

Radon Testing and Mitigation Professionals

Professional Continuous Monitor Cost $600+$ printer

- de-pressurization - wind - - thermal by-passes - - stack-effect - - vented appliances - without dedicated - outside air source - - frozen/wet soils Factors that Increase Radon Levels

Radon Mitigation for Existing Homes

Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home 23

Radon Mitigation Sub-slab Depressurization n Most common type of radon mitigation system n Suction created by fan draws radon from beneath the concrete slab and safely vents radon outdoors Fan Attic Depressurization Piping System Discharge

Radon Mitigation Sub-Slab Depressurization

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Crawlspace Mitigation … Sub-Membrane Depressurization System Fan Attic Depressurization Piping System Discharge

Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon- Resistant Homes

Building Radon Resistant Homes  Pre-construction testing is costly and is not 100% - not recommend  Homes can be built to prevent radon entry.  Radon-resistant construction includes common building practices and a few added steps.  Radon-resistant features into your new home adds $350-$500 vs. $1,500-$3,000 for existing home.  Homes with radon-resistant features should be tested for radon after occupancy.

Radon Resistant Construction Minimum Rough-In Features  4” layer of gas-permeable material (1/4”-2” aggregate) under all concrete slabs and other floor systems in contact with ground;  Soil gas retarder (6 mil poly) under slab or on ground if crawl space  Minimizing entry routes (sumps, floor openings, etc.)  Passive sub-membrane/slab depressurization system  3-inch diameter PVC pipe embedded vertically in the sub-membrane/slab extending up through the house and terminating about the roof surface  Provisions for a vent pipe power source

Radon in Water  Radon gas contribution from water – 5% - always focus on radon in air first!  10,000 pCi/L in water adds 1 pCi/L to air  Private wells are greatest problem  Water outgases radon – more from hot H2O

Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

"Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades" 33

Thank you! Questions? Comments? 34 Radon in Your Home