What are the Health Effects of Radon? When radon gas is inhaled into the lungsit decays into radioactive particles that release small bursts of energy. This energy is absorbed by nearby lung tissue, damaging the lung cells. When cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce.
Does radon stay in basement?
Also, once the windows, doors, or vents are closed, the radon concentration returns to the previous level within hours according to EPA studies. FACT: Its concentration is usually the highest in basements, simply because it emanates out of the soil through the basement.
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Again, the only way to ensure you are removing radon from your home is with a mitigation system. Sealing the basement floor can help, but just sealing the cracks is unlikely to reduce your radon levels in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings would be a better step.
How do I know if my basement has radon?
Contact your state radon office for information about radon in your area. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
Can radon enter concrete?
Radon, soil gasses, and water vapor will easily pass through any openings, cracks, gaps, drains, or thin concrete (rat slabs) in the basement.
Does opening window reduce radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.
How do you get rid of radon in a basement?
A contractor will drill two small test holes in the concrete floor on opposite sides of the basement, then install a vacuum in one and measure air flow with the other. If there is sufficient air movement below the slab, then a radon evacuation stack can be installed with a fan that exhausts to the exterior.
Why does radon build up in basements?
Radon gas accumulates in basements because of low ventilation. Heating and air-conditioning, natural air movement, the “stack effect,” as well as diffusion of radon gas through the floors and walls distribute radon throughout the house.
How do you fix radon in a basement?
Other radon reduction techniques that can be used in any type of home include: sealing, house or room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation and natural ventilation. Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction.
What is a safe level of radon in the basement?
In some homes, the level of radon in the basement is above 4 picocuries per liter (the action level), but radon levels on the first and second floor are in the safe range. There is no need to test the air in your basement if no one lives down there.
How do I get rid of radon in a basement?
– Install a barrier below your foundation or slab to prevent radon gas from penetrating and entering your home. – Run ventilation piping from your basement or crawl space up through the roof to encourage gas to vent outside of your living space. – Seal all cracks and gaps in your foundation to prevent radon gas from entering.
How do you remove radon gas from basement?
The final step to removing radon in a basement is to ensure that the toxic substance can not get into the area. Fill in all the cracks along the floor and outer walls of the basement with a cement epoxy filler, and then use a foaming installation product to fill around the doors and windows that are present.
What does it mean if you have radon in basement?
It is not uncommon to find radon in basement areas, but this can also mean a much more dangerous problem. Radon in the basement can quickly become dangerous, as radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer . Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs in the environment and is normally harmless, as our bodies have adapted to accept it.
