All About Radon - Radon1

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Silent Killer in Your Home - Radon Gas
We continually strive for improvements in
education and awareness of environmental concerns
that are detrimental to indoor air quality and
good health. We seek to determine real and
lasting solutions that are not only right for our
clients and their families but also right for the
communities and neighborhoods in which we live.
We seek to partner and align with organizations
that work to improve air quality issues in our
homes, schools, and workplaces.
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Causes and Cures

• Radon Gas What is It?
• Natural
• Colorless
• Odorless
• By-product of Uranium

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Causes and Cures
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that enters
buildings from the surrounding soil, ground
water or building products.
RADON GAS
RADIUM
It comes from the decay of Uranium which breaks
down into Radium and then to Radon gas.
URANIUM
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Causes and Cures

• Radon Gas What is It?
• Natural
• Colorless
• Odorless
• By-product of Uranium

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Causes and Cures

• How was it Discovered?
• Mines
• Reading prong
• What contributes to Radon in Homes?
• Location
• House type/Airtightness
• Pressure differential

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Causes and Cures

• What is the Concern?
• Radon exposure is reported to be the second
  leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking.
• Smoking compounds the effects of radon.

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Causes and Cures
Where is Radon found?
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Causes and Cures

• Radon in Homes
• Internal negative pressure
• Sump pump pits
• Cracks in foundation walls and floors
• Gaps between slabs and walls
• Potable water
• Gaps around piping through walls and floors
• Granite products (e.g. countertops)

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Causes and Cures

• Peculiarities of Radon levels will vary
• Geographic location
• Type construction
• Type mechanical systems
• Time of day
• Weather conditions
• Time of year seasonal changes
• Occupant lifestyle
• Other factors

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Causes and Cures
Level will vary House-to-House
0.3 pCi/L
4.8 pCi/L 10.0 pCi/L
6.8 pCi/L
1.2 pCi/L
0.5 pCi/L
2.1 pCi/L
1.4 pCi/L
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Causes and Cures

• Radon Mitigation Action Levels
• Radon is measured in picoCuries/Liter.
• Radon measurements below 4 pCi/L Radon
  mitigation is generally
• not required.
• Radon measurements of 4 pCi/L or higher Radon
  mitigation to lower annual radon exposure is
  recommended.
• Radon levels fluctuate with weather and
  atmospheric changes over the course of a
  year. Long-term testing will give better
  indications of the annual radon potential.
• Radon Action Level 4 pCi/L or higher

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Causes and Cures

• Radon Detection Devices
• Charcoal Canisters
• Electret Ion Chamber
• Charcoal Liquid Scintillation
• Continuous Monitors
• Alpha Track (long term)
• Radon in Water
• Radon levels fluctuate with weather and
  atmospheric changes over the course of a
  year. Long-term testing will give better
  indications of the annual radon potential.

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Causes and Cures
Short-term Screening
Charcoal Canister

• Canisters, Electrets, Liquid Scintillation

• Readily Available
• Reasonable Turn-around
• Unsupervised
• Gives Snap-shot
• Affordable

Electret
Charcoal Bag
Liq. Scintillation
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Causes and Cures

• Short-term Screening
• Continuous Monitors
• Interval Readouts
• Identifies Irregularities/Tampering
• Reasonable Cost
• Prompt Results

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Causes and Cures

• Long-term Testing Options
• Continuous Monitors
• Alpha Track (90 days)
• Electrets
• Not usually with Real

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Causes and Cures

• Testing Conditions
• Closed house conditions
• Lowest livable area
• Not in kitchen, bath or laundry room
• Not in crawlspace
• No fans operating
• Normal HVAC operation
• Normal entry / exit by occupants

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Causes and Cures

• Testing Conditions
• For short-term tests, all windows and external
  doors, on all floors, should remain closed,
  except for normal entry and exit.
• For tests lasting less than 4 days, closed house
  conditions
• must be initiated 12 hours prior to starting the
  test.
• Testing methods will also depend on whether
  testing is associated with a real estate
  transaction and local requirements.

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Causes and Cures
Lowest Lived In
Not for Sale Up to the homeowner and their use
of the home.
Unfinished Basement
Finished Basement
Real Estate Transaction Local requirements -
Based on the use of the space in the home.
Lowest Lived In
Finished Basement
Unfinished Basement
Also, Agreement between Home Buyer and Seller.
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Causes and Cures

• Radon Mitigation Methods
• Ventilation
• Sub-slab Depressurization (Suction)
• Seal cracks and gaps in subgrade walls and floors
• Seal sump pump pits
• Run PVC pipe through floor slab to exterior
• Install inline continuously operating fan
• House Air Pressurization
• Install continuously operating fan to maintain
  positive air pressure within subgrade areas or
• house

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Causes and Cures
Radon Mitigation Typical Costs Home Under
Construction Less than 500 Existing Home 800
- 2200
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Thank you!
Questions?