Quick Answer: Are Radon Concerns Overblown?

Is radon Overhyped?

End politicized science at EPA Over 150,000 smokers die annually of lung cancer.

Residential radon is harmless.

Exposure limits set by EPA with LNT theory also impair progress in medicine and nuclear power.

EPA rules ignore science, biology, and observed low-level radiation health effects..

Is a radon level of 6 dangerous?


How often should you test for radon?

The EPA even recommends checking radon levels at least every two years as radon flow can increase over a timescale longer than one calendar year. This is to say, just as radon levels fluctuate within a calendar year, they also fluctuate as years pass.

Can radon cause mental illness?

Mental health experts generally agree that people dealing with the presence of high levels of radon in their homes are likely to have related psychological problems if they are prone to other forms of stress.

Is radon risk overstated?

The EPA says radon gas causes 21,000 deaths every year. … They add that the established scientific method for establishing low-dose radon risk assessments is simply unscientific. Some even go so far as to say low doses of radiation might help your body fight cancer.

How concerned should I be about radon?

EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The lower the average pCi/L level in the air you breathe, the lower your risk of getting lung cancer.

Is radon proven to cause cancer?


What are the symptoms of radon in your home?

Possible symptoms include shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon, it’s very important to quit smoking.

How do I get rid of radon in my home?


How do I reduce radon in my basement?


How long can you be exposed to radon?

The decay products of radon (radon progeny) that are deposited in the lung have relatively short half-lives ranging from less than a millisecond (0.000164 seconds) to about 27 minutes; therefore, they emit radiation for only a short period of time, about three to four hours.

What is considered long term exposure to radon?


How do you remediate radon?

Mitigation of radon in the air is accomplished through ventilation, either collected below a concrete floor slab or a membrane on the ground, or by increasing the air changes per hour in the building. Treatment systems using aeration or activated charcoal are available to remove radon from domestic water supplies.

Will opening windows reduce radon?

As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. 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.

Do air purifiers reduce radon?

Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.

Does Radon make you tired?

Over time, you may also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. According to the American Cancer Society , smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Radon comes in second.

Does every home have radon?

Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well- sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. … Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.

Where should you place a radon detector?

Detectors should be placed approximately 40 cm (16 inches) from an interior wall or approximately 50 cm (20 inches) from an exterior wall. The primary purpose of testing is to assess the level of radon to which occupants are exposed.