Radon - Home Testing

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks Because radon is a gas, it can migrate through rocks and soils, escaping into fractures and openings in rocks and into ground water. Radon moves more readily through permeable soils, such as sand and gravel, and through fractures in rocks. Radon moving through soil near the earth's surface usually escapes into the atmosphere. Radon gas may seep into our homes through construction joints, cracks in the foundation, or the water supply. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level (the level at which steps should be taken to reduce radon) is 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). About 1 out of every 15 houses in the U.S. has radon levels exceeding the recommended action level. Iowa is the number one state for Radon in the country.

Radon is a radioactive gas - that means it continuously decays and releases radiation. It is produced from minerals in soil, such as uranium and radium.

Although radon is present throughout the environment, when high levels are present indoors people are exposed to more of its radiation and their risk of cancer increases. Such a situation can be discovered easily and corrected.

Why is radon a common problem in Iowa homes?
Much of the soil in the Upper Midwest contains widespread uranium and radium. These minerals continuously break down to release radon gas. Therefore, Iowa's geology provides an ongoing supply of radon.

In addition, a large percentage of Iowa homes have high levels of radon in the indoor air because of how they are built and how they operate in our climate. One important factor is that many Iowa homes have basements that are used as living spaces.

A. Cracks in concrete slabs.
B. Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-block foundations.
C. Pores and cracks in concrete blocks.
D. Floor-wall joints.
E. Exposed soil, as in a sump or crawl space.
F. Weeping (drain) tile, if drained to an open sump.
G. Mortar joints.
H. Loose fitting pipe penetrations.
I. Open tops of block walls.
J. Building materials, such as brick, concrete, rock.
K. Well water (not commonly a major source in Iowa homes).

Once radon enters a home it moves freely throughout the indoor air and people can breath it into their lungs. Understanding how it distributes through the home environment can help explain why timing and location are important factors to consider when conducting a radon test.

The level of radon is often highest in the lower part of the building. Radon moves through a house by diffusion and natural air movements and it can be distributed by mechanical equipment such as a forced-air ventilation system. As radon moves away from the home's foundation or other entry points, it mixes (and is diluted) into a greater volume of air. In addition, more dilution often occurs in the upper levels of the home because there is more fresh air ventilation there.

Greater dilution and less house vacuum may also occur when the house is more open to the outdoors during the non-heating season. This generally results in lower indoor radon levels in the summer compared to the winter.

A number of steps can be taken to lower the amount of radon in a home. A quality radon reduction (mitigation) system is often able to reduce the annual average radon level to below 2 picoCuries per liter (see Minnesota Radon Testing and Use of Test Results for discussion of radon levels and health risks). Experienced radon mitigation professionals can install appropriate control systems. Contact Cedar County Public Health for information regarding radon mitigation.

All newly built homes in Iowa should be tested for radon after they are completed and occupied. Early detection of elevated radon levels can help protect the homeowners financial interests if the radon problem is due to construction problems and can allow the homeowner to take appropriate actions to lower the radon level and protect the health of their family

Cedar County Public Health recommends that all new homes in Iowa be built to include radon-resistant construction features that minimize radon entry into the home and make future radon problems easier to fix should they occur. It is more cost-effective to include radon-resistant features when building a home rather than retrofitting an existing home. If elevated radon levels are found after you move in, radon-resistant features can be easily activated to become radon reduction systems. Ask your builder if they are currently using radon-resistant construction techniques.

Cedar County Public Health has Radon test kits available for $4.00 (free for the first 50 people after Dec 20th) They are easy to use and accurate. 8AM -4 PM Mon thru Fri -Basement of the Courthouse. javascript:Done()
Done