Radon is measured in units of picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. *The National Radon Program Services is maintained by Kansas State University through a Cooperative Agreement with EPA. Once the test is completed, follow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. The exact length of time for testing depends on the specific test. Short-term testing can take 2–90 days and long-term testing takes more than 90 days. Leave it there for the amount of time instructed.If your home is in a multi-unit building, you can test your unit by placing the device in the lowest level within your unit.This will include placing a small measuring device in your basement or the lowest level of your home, raised three feet off the ground, in the middle of the room. You can purchase a radon test kit online, in many retail or hardware stores, or order one through the National Radon Program Services. Your state radon office can give you information on where to get a test kit and whether your state offers free or discounted test kits. The longer the test, the better the results will reflect your home and lifestyle. Long-term kits measure radon in your home for over 90 days and are more likely to tell you your home’s year-round average level.Short-term kits measure radon for 2–90 days for quick results.are two general types of radon test kits:.The annual death rate in Canada from exposure to radon-induced lung cancer is 3,200 deaths, higher than car accidents 1,898 deaths, carbon monoxide 300 deaths and house fires 109 deaths combined. The bar chart illustrates how radon-induced lung cancer compares to other health concerns. Annual Deaths in Canada Figure 2 - Text Description The only way to know your radon level is to test and if high levels are found take action to reduce.įigure 2. The risk of lung cancer from radon gas exposure is significant but preventable. The chart below compares therisk of dying of radon-induced lung cancer to other better known risks such as car accidents, carbon monoxide and house fires. It is the choice of each homeowner to decide what level of radon exposure they are willing to accept. While the health risk from radon exposure below the Canadian guideline is small there is no level that is risk free. The radon level in a dwelling should not be above the guideline. A Becquerel is a unit that measures the emission of radiation per second. The Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air for dwellings is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m 3). Radon levels are generally highest in basements and crawl spaces because these areas are nearest to the source and are usually poorly ventilated. When radon is confined to enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, it can accumulate to high levels. However, if a building is built over bedrock or soil that contains uranium, radon gas can be released into the building through cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, cavities inside walls, and the water supplies. When radon escapes from the bedrock into the outdoor air, it is diluted to such low concentrations that it poses a negligible threat to health. Because radon is a gas, it can move freely through the soil enabling it to escape to the atmosphere or seep into buildings. This is a diagram of radon movement indoors as well as outdoors. How can radon get into my home? Figure 1 - Text Description Radon can enter a home any place it finds an opening where the house is in contact with the ground: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.įigure 1. Radon gas moves through the ground and escapes outside or into buildings.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |