vvEPA

CDC

 United States :

 Environmental Protection

 Agency

 U.S. Department

 Of Health and

 Human Services

U.S. Public

Health Service

 Indoor Air And Radiation (6604J)

 402-K92-001

September 1994

A Citizen's Guide

TO RSdOll (SecondEdiflon)

The Guide To Protecting

Yourself And Your Family

From Radon

 Printed on Recycled Paper

-------

 Radon is

 estimated

 to cause

 thousands of

cancer deaths

 in the U.S.

 each year.

 EPA Recommends:

 V Test your home for radon-it's easy and

 inexpensive.

 V Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocursss

 Radon levels less than 4pCi/L still pose a risk,

 and in many cases may he reduced.

30,000

 deaths

 peryear

 10,000

 Drunk

 Driving

 RADON* Brownings Fires

Airline

Crashes

 Radon is estimated to cause about 14,000 deaths peryear-however, this number could

 range from 7,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. The numbers of deaths from other causes

 are taken from 1990 National Safety Council reports.

 -2-

-------

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas,

You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a

problem in your home.

 Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year.

That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get

lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the

second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only

smoking causes more lung cancer deaths, If you smoke and your

home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially

high.

Radon can be found all over the U.S.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in

soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be

found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building - homes,

offices, and schools - and build up to high levels. But you and your

family are most likely to get your greatest: exposure at home. That's

where you spend most of your time. :

 I ;

 You should test for radon.

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from

radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes

below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in

schools.

 Testing is inexpensive and easy - it should only take a few minutes

of your time. Millions of Americans have already tested their homes

for radon. ;!

 You can fix a radon problem.

There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that aren't too costly.

 Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

 -3-

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-------

 '-' "'-"-' •- - • -- '- •- -

 Any home may

 have a radon

 problem.

RADON GETS IN THROUGH:

1. Cracks in solid floors.

2. Construction joints.

3. Cracks in walls.

4. Gaps in

 suspended floors.

5. Gaps around

 service pipes.

6. Cavities inside walls.

7. The water supply.

HOW DOES RADON GET INTO YOUR HOME?

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium thai]

found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air

above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundatior

Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have

radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty

homes, and homes with or without basements.

 Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes

radon enters the home through well water (see page 8). In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However,

building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.

 Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevat-

 ed radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes

 in your state. Contact your state radon office (see page 15) for general

 information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be

 more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only

 way to know about your home is to test.

 Radon can be a problem in schools and workplaces, too. Ask your

 state radon office (see page 15) about radon problems in schools and

 workplaces in your area.

 -4-

-------

HOW TO TEST YOUR HOME

You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy

and should only take a few minutes of your time.

 The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of

air," or "pCi/L." Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels

(WL) rather than picocuries per liter (pCi/L). There are many kinds of

low-cost "do it yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and

in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Make sure you buy a test kit

that has passed EPA's testing program or is state-certified. These kits will

usually display the phrase "Meets EPA Requirements." If you prefer, or if

you are buying or selling a home, you can. hire a trained contractor to do

the testing for you. Make certain you hire an EPA-qualified or state-certified radon tester. Call your state radon office (see page 15) for a list of

these testers. ;

There are Two General Ways to Test for Baden:

SHORT-TERM TESTING;

The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your

home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha

track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid scintillation"

detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels

tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely

than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If you need

results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may

be used to decide whether to fix your home.

LONG-TERM TESTING:

Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. "Alpha track" and

"electret" detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will

give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average

radon level than a short-term test.

How To Use a Test Kit:

Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a

short-term test, close your windows and outside doors and keep them

closed as much as possible during the test. (If you are doing a short-terra

test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside

doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not

conduct short-term tests lasting just 2 or 3 days during unusually severe

storms or periods of unusually high winds.) The test kit should be placed

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in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is

frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that

is used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but not

Testing is easy

ami should only

take a few

minutes of

your time,,

 -5-

-------

your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20 inches above the floor in a location

where it won't be disturbed—away from drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior

walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you've finished the

test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for

study, You should receive your test results within a few weeks,

EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:

Stepl. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pd/L or higher* take

 a follow-up test (Step 2) to he sure.

Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:

 • For a hotter understanding of your year-round average

 radon level, take a long-term test.

 • If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.

 The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can

 be that you should take a short-term rather than a long-term follow up

 test. If your first short-term test result is several times the action

 level—for example, about 10 pd/L or higher—you should take a

 second short-term test immediately.

Step 3. • If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if

 your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more*

 • If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your

 short-term results, the more certain you can he that you should fix

 your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and

 second test is 4 pd/L or higher*.

 * 0.02 Working Levels (WL) or higher.

-------

WHAT YOUR TEST RESULTS MEAN

'he average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and

bout 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. The U.S.

longress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more

han outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable

i all cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.

 Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not

our home is above 4 pCi/L. This can happen when your results are close

o 4 pCi/L. For example, if the average of your two short-term test results

; 4.1 pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average is

omewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon exposure

arries some risk—no level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4

iCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk of lung cancer by lowring your radon level.

 If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of

our home (such as a basement) you should retest your home on that level.

 Even if your test result is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again

ometime in the future. :

 RADON AND HOME SALES

 More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before

 they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is

 often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to

 test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them.

 Fix a problem if it exists so it won't complicate your home sale. If you are plan-

 ning to move, call your state radon office (see page 15) forEPA's pamphlet

 "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some common

 questions. During home sales: '•

 • Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were

 reduced.

 • Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the

 home sale. Your state office (see page 15) has a list of qualified testers.

 • Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a base-

 ment they plan to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test.

 Today many homes are built to prevent radon from coming in. Your state or

 local area may require these radon-resistant construction features. Radon-

 resistant construction features usually keep radon levels in new homes below

 2 pCi/L If you are buying or renting a new home, ask the owner or builder if it

 has radon-resistant features.

Test your home

now and save

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your results. If

you find high

ration levels, fix

your home hefore

you decide to

sell it

 -7-

-------

 RADON IN WATER

 If you've tested

 the air in your

 home and found

a radon problem,

 and your water

 comes from a

 well, have your

 water tested.

Compared to radon entering the

home through soil, radon entering the home through water will

in most cases be a small source

of risk. Radon gas can enter the

home through well water. It can be

released into the air you breathe

when water is used for showering

and other household uses.

Research suggests that swallowing water with high radon levels

may pose risks, too, although

risks from swallowing water

containing radon are believed to

be much lower than those from

breathing air containing radon.

 While radon in water is not a problem in homes served by most public

water supplies, it has been found in well water. If you've tested the air in

your home and found a radon problem, and your water comes from a

well, contact a lab certified to measure radiation in water to have your

water tested. If you're on a public water supply and are concerned that

radon may be entering your home through the water, call your public

water supplier.

 Radon problems in water can be readily fixed. The most effective treatme^

is to remove radon from the water before it enters the home. This is called

point-of-entry treatment. Treatment at your water tap is called point-of-use

treatment. Unfortunately, point-of-use treatment will not reduce most of the |

inhalation risk from radon.

 Call your state office (see page 15) or the EPA Drinking

Water Hotline (800-426-4791)

for more information on radon ^

in water. jr:,:.:

 -8-

-------

 ^pfw^a*B^^;l3Sli

 ^i»«.jsM-»y»^»»----^jii:~^2^IIZ3^.2

 HOW TO LOWER THE RADON LEVEL

 IN YOUR HOME

Since there is no known safe level of radon, there can always be some

risk. But the risk can be reduced by lowering the radon level in your

home.

 A variety of methods are used to reduce radon in your home. In some

cases, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. In

other cases, simple systems using pipes and fans may be used to reduce

radon. Such systems are called "sub-slab depressurization," and do not

require major changes to your home. These systems remove radon gas

from below the concrete floor and the foundation before it can enter the

home. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces.

Radon contractors use other methods that may also work in your home.

The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.

 Ways to reduce radon in your home are discussed in EPA's "Consumer's

Guide to Radon Reduction." You can get a copy from your state radon

office.

 The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how your home

was built and the extent of the radon problem. Most homes can be fixed

for about the same cost as other common home repairs like painting or

having a new hot water heater installed. The average house costs about

$1,200 for a contractor to fix, although this can range from about $500 to

about $2,500. ;

RADONANDHOMi

If you are planning

any major structural

renovation, such as

converting an unfinished basement area

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into living space, it is

especially important to

test the area for radon

before you begin the

renovation. If your

test results indicate a

radon problem, radonresistant techniques

can be inexpensively

included as part of the

renovation. Because

major renovations can

change the level of

radon in any home,

always test again after

work is completed.

-------

Most homes can

 be fixed for

 about the same

 cost as other

 common home

 repairs.

 Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special

skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems.

The EPA Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program tests these contractors. EPA provides a list of RCP contractors to state radon offices

(see page 15). A contractor who has passed the EPA test will carry a special RCP identification card. A trained RCP contractor can study the

radon problem in your home and help you pick the right treatment

method.

 Check with your state radon office for names of qualified or state certified radon contractors in your area. Picking someone to fix your radon

problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home repairs - you

may want to get references and more than one estimate.

 If you plan to fix the problem in your home yourself, you should first

contact your state radon office (see page 15) for EPA's technical guide,

"Radon Reduction Techniques for Detached Houses."

 You should also

test your home

again after it is

fixed to be sure

that radon levels

have been

reduced. Most

radon reduction

systems include a

monitor that will

alert you if the

system needs servicing. In addition, it's a good

idea to retest

your home sometime in the future

to be sure radon

levels remain low.

 -10-

-------

THE RISK OF LIVING WITH RADON

Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in

your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these

particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not

everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer. And the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the

disease may be many years.

 Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty

about the magnitude of radon health risks. However, we know more

about radon risks than risks from most other cancer-causing substances. This is because estimates of radon risks are based on studies of cancer in humans (underground miners). Additional studies

on more typical populations are under way. '•

 Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk.

Stop smoking and lower your radon level to reduce your lung cancer

risk.

 Children have been reported to have greater risk than adults of

certain types of cancer from radiation, but there are currently no

conclusive data on whether children are at greater risk than avdults

from radon.

Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:

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• How much radon is in your home

• The amount of time you spend in

 your home

• Whether you are a smoker or have

 ever smoked

Scientists are

more certain

about ration risks

than risks from

most other

cancer-causing

substances.

 -11-

-------

 It's never too

 late to reduce

your risk of lung

 cancer. Don't

 wait to test and

 fix a ration

 problem. If you

 are a smoker,

 stop smoking.

 RADON RISK IF YOU SMOK1

 Radon

 Level

 If 1,000 people who

 smoked were exposed

 to this level over a

 lifetime...

 The risk of cancer from

 radon exposure compares to.

 WHAT TO DO:

Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower.

RADON RISK IF YOU'VE NEVER SMOKED

 Radon

 Level

If 1,000 people who

never smoked were

exposed to this level

 over a lifetime...

The risk of cancer from

WHAT TO DO:

 Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher.

 -12-

-------

 RADON

 MYTHS

 MYTH: Scientists

 aren't sure radon really

 is a problem.

FACT. Although some scientists dispute the precise number of

 deaths due to radon, all major health organizations (like the

 Centers for Disease Control, the American Lung Association

 and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates

 that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer

 deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers,

 since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.

MYTH: Radon testing is

 difficult, time-

 consuming and

 expensive.

 MYTH: Radon test kits

 are not reliable and are

 difficult to find.

 MYTH: Homes with

 radon problems

 can't be fixed.

 MYTH: Radon only

 affects certain kinds

 of homes.

FACT: Radon testing is inexpensive and easy-it should take only

 a little of your time.

FACT: Reliable test kits are available through the mail, in hard-

 ware stores and other retail outlets. Call your state radon

 office (see page 15) for a list of test kit companies that have

 met EPA requirements for reliability or are state certified.

FACT: There are simple solutions to ration problems in homes.

 Thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems

 in their homes. Radon levels can be readily lowered for

 about $500 to $2,500. Call your state radon office (see page

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 15) for a list of contractors that Slave met EPA requirements

 or are state certified.

FACT: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon

 can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new

 homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with base-

 ments, homes without basements.

 -13-

-------

 MYTH: Radon is only a

 problem in certain parts

 of the country.

FACT: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon

 problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know

 your radon level Is to test.

 MYTH: A neighbor's

 test result is a good

 indication of whether

 your home has

 a problem.

 MYTH: Everyone

 should test their water

 for radon.

 MYTH: It's difficult to

 sell homes where radon

 problems have

 been discovered.

 MYTH: I've lived in my

 home for so long, it

 doesn't make sense to

 take action now.

MYTH: Short-term tests

 can't be used for

 making a decision

 about whether to fix

 your home.

FACT. It's not. Radon levels wary from home to home. The only

 way to know If your home has a radon problem is to test it.

FACT: While radon gets into some homes through the water, you

 should first test the air in your home for radon. If you find

 high levels and your water conies from a well, contact

 a lah certified to measure radiation In water to have your

 water tested.

FACT: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not

 been blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some

 times a good selling point.

FACT: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce

 radon levels, even if you've lived with a radon problem for a

 long time.

FACT: A short-term test followed by a second short-term test may

 be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the

 closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L,

 the less certain you can be about whether your year-round

 average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that

 radon levels below 4 pd/L still pose some risk. Radon levels

 can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.

 -14-

-------

 STATE

 RADON

 CONTACTS

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut \

Delaware :

District of Columbia '••

Florida

Georgia \

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois '•

Indiana •

Iowa

Kansas i

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

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Maryland

Massachusetts ;

Michigan (

Minnesota

Mississippi \

Missouri i

800/582-1866

800/478-8324

602/255-4845

501/661-2301

800/745-7236

800/846-3986

203/566-3122

800/554-4636

202/727-5728

800/543-8279

800/745-0037

808/586-4700

800/445-8647

800/325-1245

800/272-9723

800/383-5992

913/296-6183

502/564-3700

800/256-2494

800/232-0842

800/872-3666

413/586-7525

800/723-6642

800/798-9050

800/626-7739

800/669-7236

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

 INDIAN NATIONS '••

 All Indian Pueblo Council

 Cherokee Nation

 Chickasaw Nation

 Hopi Tribe

 Inner Tribal Council

 Jicarilla Apache Tribe •

 Navajo Nation

 505-881-2254

 918-458-5496

 405-436-2603

 602-734-2441

 602-248-0071

 505-759-3242

 602-871-7754

Oneida Indian Nation

Seneca Nation

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

For Indian Nations in the

 States of MN,WI,!L,

 Ml, IN,and OH.call

 406/444-3671

 800/334-9491

 702/687-5394

 800/852-3345x4674

 800/648-0394

 505/827-4300

 800/458-1158

 919/571-4141

 701/221-5188

 800/523-4439

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 405/271-1902

 503/731-4014

 800/237-2366

 809/767-3563

 401/277-2438

 800/768-0362

 800/438-3367

 800/232-1139

 512/834-6688

 800/536-4250

 800/640-0601

 800/468-0138

 800/922-1255

 608/267-4795

 800/458-5847

315-361-6300

716-532-0024

518-358-3141

312-886-6063

 FOR

 FURTHER

INFORMATION

For more information on how to reduce your radon

health risk, ask your state radon office to send

you these guides:

* Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

• Radon in Schools

• Radon: A Physician's Guide

• Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction

• Technical Support Document

If you plan to make repairs yourself, be sure

to contact your state radon office (see above)

fora current copy ofEPA's technical guidance on radon mitigation,

"Application of Radon Reduction Techniques for Detached Houses."

*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1995-620-596

 -15-

-------

 SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH ADVISORY:

 "Indoor radon gas is a national health problem. Radon

 causes thousands of deaths each year. Millions of

 homes have elevated radon levels. Homes should be

 tested for radon. When elevated levels are confirmed,

 the problem should be corrected."

 ISBN 0-16-036222-9

 90000

 For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328

 ISBN 0-16-036222-9

9 "780160" 362224"

-------

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