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RADON RADON The Health Risks and The Health Risks and Solutions Solutions ---PAGE BREAK--- What is Radon? What is Radon? A naturally occurring radioactive gas radioactive gas. Colorless, odorless and tasteless. Found all over the U.S. in all types of buildings. Colorless, Odorless & Tasteless Colorless, Odorless & Tasteless ---PAGE BREAK--- Radon is 2 Radon is 2nd nd leading cause of lung leading cause of lung cancer and lung cancer death cancer and lung cancer death ---PAGE BREAK--- Uranium Decay Chart Uranium Decay Chart Radon Radium Uranium ---PAGE BREAK--- Uranium Decay Uranium Decay Products Products ---PAGE BREAK--- How Radon Gets into a Home: How Radon Gets into a Home: ---PAGE BREAK--- How Radon Causes Lung Cancer How Radon Causes Lung Cancer Inhalation of Inhalation of Radon Decay Radon Decay Products Products Alpha Alpha Particle Particle Radiation Damage Radiation Damage to DNA to DNA ---PAGE BREAK--- What Are the Health Risks of What Are the Health Risks of Radon? Radon? Breathing air with elevated radon levels over long periods of time is known to increase your risk of lung cancer. Radon is a known human carcinogen. Second leading known cause of lung cancer, with cigarette smoking being number one. ---PAGE BREAK--- Annual Deaths from Selected Annual Deaths from Selected Causes Causes 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 Airline Airline Crashes Crashes Fires Fires RADON* RADON* Drunk Drunk Driving Driving * Radon is estimated to cause between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths per year, according to the National Academy of Sciences 1998 data. The number of deaths from other causes are actuarial data taken from 2000 National Safety Council reports. Drownings Drownings Deaths per Year Deaths per Year ---PAGE BREAK--- Environmental Risk Comparison Environmental Risk Comparison 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 Estimated Annual Cancer Deaths Pesticide Pesticide Applications Applications Hazardous Hazardous Waste Sites Waste Sites Toxic Toxic Outdoor Outdoor Air Air Pollutants Pollutants Pesticide Pesticide Residue Residue on Food on Food RADON RADON ---PAGE BREAK--- Testing is the only way to know if Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk you and your family are at risk Residential Construction Team ---PAGE BREAK--- How Can I Reduce Elevated Radon How Can I Reduce Elevated Radon Levels? Levels? §Mitigate Your Home for Radon. Mitigate Your Home for Radon. A Radon Contractor can: A Radon Contractor can: •Install a system to reduce radon levels. Install a system to reduce radon levels. •Prevent it from ever entering the living space. Prevent it from ever entering the living space. §Contact your state Contact your state’s radon program office for s radon program office for a list of qualified radon mitigators. a list of qualified radon mitigators. §EPA and DHSS documents will be helpful in EPA and DHSS documents will be helpful in understanding radon mitigation in your home. understanding radon mitigation in your home. ---PAGE BREAK--- Radon Test Kits Radon Test Kits ---PAGE BREAK--- How is Radon Measured? How is Radon Measured? §Radon is collected in a sampling kit placed in Radon is collected in a sampling kit placed in a building. The amount of radon collected is a building. The amount of radon collected is determined by a laboratory. determined by a laboratory. §While No level of radon exposure is While No level of radon exposure is considered safe, EPA has set an action level at considered safe, EPA has set an action level at 4 4 picoCuries picoCuries per liter of air ( per liter of air (pCi pCi/L). §If a radon test in a home shows levels at or If a radon test in a home shows levels at or above 4 above 4 pCi pCi/L, mitigation measures should be mitigation measures should be taken. taken. ---PAGE BREAK--- Can Can’t I Just Seal Cracks in the t I Just Seal Cracks in the Floor or Open Windows? Floor or Open Windows? Sealing visible cracks is a basic part of most radon mitigation approaches, but sealing alone is NOT enough. Opening doors and windows to dilute the radon may sometimes be effective, but it is NOT a practical long-term solution. ---PAGE BREAK--- Most commonly installed system is called “sub-slab depressurization”. System is simple, effective and energy-efficient. Uses plumbing-type PVC pipe and a small fan to remove radon. In most cases levels can be reduced below 2 pCi/L. Radon Mitigation in a Home Radon Mitigation in a Home ---PAGE BREAK--- How Sub How Sub-slab Depressurization slab Depressurization Works in a Home Works in a Home Suction created by fan draws radon from beneath the concrete slab and safely vents radon outdoors Most common type of radon mitigation system Fan Attic Depressurization Piping System Discharge ---PAGE BREAK--- Protect Your Family: Protect Your Family: TEST FOR RADON TEST FOR RADON