What should I do if a radon test shows high levels in my home?

If a radon test shows that levels in your home are high, it is essential to take action to reduce exposure. Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, produced by the natural decay of uranium and thorium in rocks, soil, and water. High levels of radon can accumulate inside homes, increasing the long-term risk of developing lung cancer [1].

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking corrective action for homes where radon concentrations are 4 picocuries per liter of air (4 pCi/L) or higher. It also recommends considering repairs when radon concentrations are between 2 and 4 picocuries per liter (2-4 pCi/L) [1].

Immediate Steps to Reduce Radon Exposure

To reduce radon levels in your home, you can start with some simple measures, but be aware that these solutions may be temporary or insufficient on their own:

• Increase Airflow: Open windows and use fans and vents to circulate air in the home. However, natural ventilation is only a temporary strategy for reducing radon [1].
• Seal Cracks: Seal cracks in floors, walls, and foundations using plaster or sealants designed for this purpose [1].
• Cover Earth Floors: If you have crawl spaces with dirt floors, cover them with high-density plastic sheeting. A specialized vent pipe and fan can be used to pull radon from beneath the sheet and vent it outside [1].

Specialized Radon Mitigation Systems

If radon levels are significantly high, or if initial measures are insufficient, you may need to install a specialized system to reduce radon. This process is known as radon mitigation [1]. The cost of the system depends on the size and design of your home [3]. It is important to hire qualified professionals to install these systems to ensure their effectiveness.

Monitoring Radon Levels After Repairs

After making any repairs or installing radon mitigation systems, it is essential to monitor radon levels again to ensure they have dropped to safe levels [1]. Radon levels can vary from day to day and month to month, so long-term testing (more than 90 days) provides a better indication of the average radon level in your home [2].

Why is Radon Dangerous?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking [2]. When radioactive radon particles are inhaled, they can damage the cells lining the lungs, which may lead to the development of lung cancer over time [3]. Combined exposure to radon gas and cigarette smoke increases the risk of lung cancer even further [2]. For more information on the risks of radon and how to protect your family, you can visit Radon Gas: A Hidden Danger in Homes and How to Protect Your Family (Arabic).

Medical references

• Radon
• Radon and Cancer
• Radon