What the Heck is Radon and Why Should I Be Concerned About It?

Recently, one of my clients had a home inspection performed, in anticipation of listing his house for sale.  To his horror, the results were well above the action level.  His results were above 30 pCi/L (pico Curies per Liter).   Test results below 4 pCi/L don’t usually require remediation.   He and his wife were aghast.  So, what is radon, what are its’ health effects and how can we get rid of it?

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by the decay of uranium.  It is found in some concentration almost everywhere in the world.  The map below shows approximate areas of concentration in the U.S.  It enters a house through openings in the foundation.  Different types of soil account for different amounts found within the same area.  

Once in the house, it is spread throughout the house by a process known as the thermal stack effect.  As air is heated, it rises taking the radon along with it.  Warm air heating and air conditioning systems can also contribute to distributing it around the home.

Radon affects DNA within the lungs which can lead to pre-cancerous cells.  Radon has been linked to lung cancer, affecting children, pregnant women and smokers more severely. 

The good news is that radon is lighter than air, so, if it can be channeled to above the house’s roof, it won’t reenter the home.  This is accomplished by installing a set of PVC pipes to carry the radon from below the foundation to above the roof.  The remediation system has a fan, usually installed in the pipes, above the attic floor.  The cost of a remediation system usually runs between $300 and $1,000.

The interesting fact is that people often live in a house for many years and only have it tested for radon prior to its’ sale to new owners.  I suggest that homeowners have their house tested for radon within a year of moving in, especially if they live in an area like northeastern Pennsylvania which is rated level 1.