I. Every Home In Minnesota Has Radon!

The Entire State Of MN Is In A Radon Advisory Area

Counties shaded in red, represent Zone 1. Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones).

Counties shaded in orange, represent Zone 2. Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones).

Once you have been educated to the reality there is radon in your home, the next step is get the information neccesary to manage your home's radon level and protect your family. Take the next step, join me at one of my open radon seminars @

RE/MAX Results office located at 2605 Campus Drive.

The next one is set for Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Take care,
Don Mailey

RE/MAX Results
(952) 212-0968
Don@DonMailey.com

II. What Is Radon?

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Although radon is a health issue for everyone, if you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you're at an even higher risk for developing lung cancer. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon. This may be due to their higher respiration rate and their rapidly dividing cells, which may be more vulnerable to radiation damage.

III. How Radon Enters Your Home, Workplace Or School

IV. What Happens When Radon Enters Your Home

V. Why Is Radon A Concern?

Once radon enters a building it is easily dispersed through the air. The radioactive decay process that leads to the creation of radon does not stop. This causes the radon to decay into several radioactive elements called radon decay products. These decay products are made up of different forms of polonium, lead and bismuth.
Unlike radon, which is a gas, the radon decay products produced from radon are solid particles. These particles become suspended in the air when they are formed from the decaying radon gas. These particles are extremely small and cannot be seen.
Because they are extremely small particles, radon decay products are easily inhaled and can attach to lung tissue. They have very short “half-lives” which means that they will decay relatively quickly after they are formed. In fact, if they are inhaled, they will decay in the lungs before the lungs have an opportunity to clean themselves.
It is the radon decay products that actually present the health risk associated with radon gas.

VI. When Radon Decay Products Enter Your Lungs

When radon decay products are inhaled, they stick to sensitive lung tissue. Being short-lived, they will break down while they are in the lungs. This exposes the lung tissue to radiation.

If the alpha particle hits the live pulmonary epithelium DNA, it can damage the cancer suppressant genes and increase risk for contracting lung cancer. In addition to the alpha particle causing double and single strand DNA breaks, the alpha particle can also cause ionization of material around the DNA that can also damage it. This is the mechanism that radon (and more specifically the radon decay products) can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer. What is the probability of this happening? It is based on how much radon you are exposed to and for how long.

VII. For Example...

These are pits in CR-39 plastic made by alpha particles. If they can make these pits in plastic, imagine what they can do to your DNA.

VIII. Some Perspective On The Risk

Radon induced lung cancer takes more lives annually than many other more well know types. For more perspective, consider that estimated annual US AIDS deaths are at 14,561 [2007]; estimated annual homicide deaths are at 18,573 [2006] and estimated automobile deaths are at 42,636 [2005].

IX. Who Says Radon Is A Serious Health Concern?

X. Where To Start

The best way to start learning about your home's radon level is with a short-term test. Although there are different variations, the simplest and cheapest option would be one of the kits similar to or including Air Chek Inc's which currently offers a WCCO discount. These kits with come with full instructions and a lab contact for analysis when the test is complete.
First Alert also offers a good kit. Be careful if comparing prices as some kits include the lab analysis in their price while others do not!

XI. What Will Your Results Mean

Radon is measured in picocuries per litre or (pCi/L). When your results return from the lab, they will be expressed in that format, which will tell you what the average level of radon was during the time the test was active. Keep in mind, radon levels may fluctuate widely during a window as short as an hour and certainly may change due to seasonal, weather and other factors. This is why it is recommended to follow up your short-term test with a long-term test; one that is 90+ days long.

Although there is no safe level of radon gas in your home, the US EPA looks at 4.0 pCi/L as the theoretical action level for making a correction to your home. However, even if you achieve the 4.0 mark, EPA still strongly encourages you to consider striving for 2.0 pCi/L. You can see some of their views in the excerpt from the Radon Act 51 below:


[Radon Act 51 passed by Congress set the natural outdoor level of radon gas (0.4 pCi/L) as the target radon level for indoor radon levels. Unfortunately two-thirds of all homes exceed this level. The US EPA was tasked with setting practical guidelines and recommendations for the nation. To this end, the US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. At or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas. This does not imply that a level below 4.0 pCi/L is considered acceptable, as stated in the BEIR VI study. It is estimated that a reduction of radon levels to below 2 pCi/L nationwide would likely reduce the yearly lung cancer deaths attributed to radon by 50%. However, even with an action level of 2.0 pCi/L, the cancer risk presented by radon gas is still hundreds of times greater than the risks allowed for carcinogens in our food and water.]

XII. What To Do After You Receive Your Results

This can often be a complicated point in the process. Part of the problem is the media does a good job promoting awareness but does little in the way of providing information. In the course of being a Realtor, I have even encountered radon professionals who do not have a command of the information.

There is a lot of good information availible and most answers can be found in the EPA's Radon Library!

As a rough rule of thumb, keep in mind the following statement by the EPA:



"There is no known safe level of exposure to radon. EPA strongly recommends that you fix your home if your test shows 4 Pico curies (pCi/L) or more. If your test shows between 2 and 4 pCi/L, consider fixing."

My personal thoughts on post-test [short-term] action {I have passed the EPA's Radon Measurement Course}:

First result between 0 and 2 pCi/L:
No follow-up needed.** Your home has low radon levels. Consider doing a long-term test of 91 days or longer.

First result between 2 and 4 pCi/L:
Assess your risk; how much time do you spend in the lower level. Consider mitigating and do conduct a long-term test of 91 days or longer.

First result between 4 and 8 pCi/L:
Do a second short-term test and/or a long-term test of 91 days or longer. If the average of the two short-term tests or the long-term test is above 4 pCi/L, mitigate your home.

First result above 8 pCi/L:
Do a second short-term test to confirm your first test. If second test comes back over 8 pCi/L, decide if you want to mitigate or proceed to a long-term test of 91 days or longer. If the two short-term tests average 12+ pCi/L, you may want to contact a knowledgable radon professional before proceeeding with a long-term test.

** Even homes found with low levels of radon should be tested periodically.

XIII. Mitigation Costs May Be Elgible For FSA Reimbursement

I would urge individuals with FSAs to attempt to take advantage of this coverage - the wording states – “If a physician requires radon mitigation in your home due to a medical condition caused or aggravated by an unacceptable level of radon, some expenses may be eligible. However, if the home’s value is increased due to the mitigation, some or all of the expenses may not be reimbursable. Use the Capital Expense Worksheet to determine how much of the expense is eligible.”

Radon testing is not an eligible expense.

The medical condition often used is increased risk of developing lung cancer from the past radon exposure.

See:

https://www.fsafeds.com/FSAFEDS/EligibleExpenses.asp#R

XIV.

Check back as there will be more posts to follow. In the meantime, I offer:


Special Thanks To:

R. William Field, Ph.D., M.S.
Associate Professor
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
Department of Epidemiology
College of Public Health
104 IREH
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Bill-field@uiowa.edu