Should homeowners be concerned about Radon?
Radon exposure has been linked to lung cancer from numerous case-control studies performed in the United States and other countries. It has been estimated that
there are more than 20,000 deaths each year due to radon induced lung cancers in the United States alone. The phenomenon of heightened radon contamination in
homes is common. Depending on construction and ventilation radon may accumulate in building basements. Radon concentrations in the same location may differ
significantly over a period of as little as an hour. The level or Radon concentration also may vary from one room of a building to another with significantly
differences in Radon levels.
The highest average Radon concentrations in the United States are found in the Appalachian Mountain areas in southeastern Pennsylvania and in Iowa.
Iowa has the highest average radon concentrations in the United States due to glacier activity that ground granitic from the Canada and deposited
it as soils which are now Iowa farmland. Many juristictions in Iowa and otehr states have passed requirements for radon-resistant construction in
new homes. In Maryland, near the area of high Radon concentrations in the Appalachaian regions of Pennsylvania, testing and certifications are
required by many juristicitons before homes can be sold.
Testing for Radon.
There are relatively simple tests for radon gas Radon test kits are commercially available. The short-term radon test kits used for screening purposes
are inexpensive. The kit includes a collector that the user hangs in the lowest livable floor of the house for a few to several days. The collector device
is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Long term kits, taking collections for up to one year, are also available.
An open-land test kit can test radon emissions from the land before construction begins.