Radon Testing: Radon Test Kits

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas emitted by the disintegration of radium and uranium, present in soil, water and rocks. Radon is highly radioactive and is one of the heaviest substances on earth, that can remain in its gaseous form even during normal conditions. This gas, which lacks color, smell and taste, is considered to be a carcinogen, and can cause lung cancer. Radon gas, which is freely found in the atmosphere, gets accumulated in basements and foundations and enters buildings through cracks and holes. Sometimes, water in wells are also contaminated by this gas. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this gas is present all over the country and high levels of radon are present in one among every 15 homes.

Every time you breath air mixed with radon gas, the radioactive particles in this gas get accumulated in the lungs. These particles break down in the lungs, emitting radiation in the process, which in turn destroys the lung tissues. Hence, long term exposure to radon gas can result in lung cancer. Earlier, it was believed that smokers were at a greater risk of developing lung cancer from radon gas exposure, but now it has been proved that even non-smokers are at the same risk. But smoking combined with long term exposure to radon can be a killer combination. In fact, now it has been acknowledged that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon Testing

The amount of radon gas varies from one location to another, but it is very important to test the radon level in your house, as it is the only way to find out the presence of this radioactive gas in your place. It is recommended by experts that houses on the third floor and below that level should undergo radon testing, to avoid health hazards. Even though there is no 'safe level' of radon gas, according to the EPA, any indoor radon gas level above the range of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/l), should be tackled at the earliest. It is also suggested that it is always better to lower the radon levels below 2 pCi/l.

A Radon gas test is inexpensive and easy, as you can use radon test kits for this purpose. These radon test kits can check the level of radon gas in both water and air. If you are opting for short-term radon tests, then perform two such tests to get a fair idea regarding the radon levels in your house. You can also compare the result with that of a long term radon test kit. You can also take the annual average of the radon levels measured in your home. Even professionals, who offer radon mitigation and testing services, can be hired to test the radon levels at your place, but it can cost you more than the radon test kits.

Radon Test Kits

Radon test kits are easily available in home supply stores or hardware shops. You can also approach the local health authorities, who supply these kits at subsidized rates in some places. As far as radon gas test kits are concerned, there are two types - short term and long term radon test kits. Short-term kits are not meant for measuring the annual average, but they are used for three to seven days for radon gas tests. In case of long-term radon gas test kits, they can provide more accurate results, as the minimum period to use these kits is ninety days. It is always better to use it yearlong, for highly accurate results. If yearlong testing is not feasible, you can also conduct the test for both summers and winters. It is also recommended that the lowest place of your house, preferably the basement, is the best place to conduct the test. But if the basement is not regularly used, then it can be done in any other room, other than the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or a hallway.

The two basic types of radon gas test kits are called passive and active. The former does not need electricity for its working, as it includes charcoal canisters, alpha-track detectors, and charcoal liquid scintillation devices that are exposed to the air in your home for a specified period. Later these are sent to the laboratory for testing. In case of active radon testing kits, which require power to work and records the radon levels in a continuous manner. These devices include monitors, which display the radon levels and are considered more reliable than the passive ones. But these devices are generally used by home inspectors and air quality professionals.

Short-term radon testing should not be done during high humidity, high winds and severe storms. In case the testing period is less than four days, then keep the doors and windows of the room shut for the previous three days. Seal the room, even if it's a long-term test, except for normal entry and exit. The device should be kept at least 20 inches above the floor to prevent the effect of humidity. Above all, it is always better to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. If the radon level detected by the device is above the accepted standards, you can fix the problem with radon reduction systems. There are radon reduction techniques, which can be installed during the construction of new buildings. This can also help in reducing the level of entry of radon to a large extent.