The only known health risk associated with exposure to radon is an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Radon gas and radon progeny in the air can be breathed into the lungs where they break down further and emit “alpha particles”. Alpha particles release small bursts of energy which are absorbed by nearby lung tissue. This results in lung cell death or damage. When lung cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce. Cancers caused by radioactivity are started by chance and not everyone exposed to radon will develop lung cancer. The time between exposure and the onset of the disease is usually many years. Your risk of developing lung cancer from radon depends on the concentration of radon in the air you breathe and the length of time you are exposed. Until very recently, the estimate of the risk from radon in homes was uncertain. However, two recent independent studies in North America and Europe have confirmed that the lung cancer risk extends downward to radon levels as low as 200 Bq/m3.

During much of the year, the air pressure inside your home is lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressures draws air and other gases in the soil, including radon, into the home. Soil gas containing radon can enter a house any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the soil. These openings can be present even in well-built and new houses.

Radon levels are unpredictable and varies from home to home, even homes next door to each other can have very different radon levels. All homes and rental properties should be tested. Know your risks test for radon. Pacific West Home Inspections can conduct the required testing and forward a report of the results with recommendation and suggestions to eliminate Radon from the home.

The quickest way to test for radon gas is a short-term test. A short-term test is a test from 2 to 90 days. Typically most short-term test done are from 2 to 7 days. During a short-term test closed house conditions must be meet 12 hours prior to the testing and during the entire test. A short term test will give you a snapshot of the radon levels in ones home and is a good way to determine if one may have a potential radon problem. Usually a decision to mitigate is not made on one test alone. One may follow up with another short-term test or a long-term test depending on the radon levels from the initial test.

A long term test is a test from 91 to 365 days. A long-term test will tell you your home’s year-round average radon levels under your living conditions. This is considered the most accurate way to test. During a long-term test there are no special requirements you may open doors and windows and operate fans. The disadvantage of the long-term test is that if your home has high radon levels it may take up to a year to find out your test results.

There is no apparent safe level of exposer for radon gas. The higher the levels and the longer you are exposed to radon gas the greater your risk of getting lung cancer. In a recent study combined data from across North America estimate that ones risk of developing lung cancer increases by 11% per 100 becquerels per cubic meter ( Bq/m³) increase in radon concentration, with no apparent safe level of exposure.

Remedial measures be taken in a dwelling whenever the average annual radon concentration in the normal occupancy area exceeds 200 becquerels per cubic meter. The higher the radon concentration, the sooner remedial measures should be taken. When remedial action is taken, the radon level should be reduced to a value as low as practicable (i.e., reduced as much as possible using methods that are cost-effective). The construction of new dwellings should employ techniques that will minimize radon entry and will facilitate post-construction radon removal, should this subsequently prove necessary.