What are acceptable levels of radon?

What are acceptable levels of radon?

EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

What are bad levels of radon?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that measurements of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher are considered dangerous levels. This radon level is largely unsafe and is 10 times higher² than the average outdoor air levels.

What are normal radon levels in a house?

The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels.

What does radon Zone 1 mean?

What do the colors mean? Zone 1 (red zones) Highest potential; average indoor radon levels may be. greater than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter)

Is radon higher 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.

Should I walk away from a house with radon?

“You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home. It’s actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it’s not that expensive,” Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said. Home inspections often include testing for radon – using short term kits.

What time of year is radon highest?

winter
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.

Where is radon most often found?

Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor. Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour.

Is radon only in basements?

Basements aren’t the only place you can find radon. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Unfortunately, it’s also very wrong. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement.

What is a dangerous level of radon?

Radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L are considered dangerous. However, government standards recommend an average level of 0.4 pCi/L to prevent virtually all possibility of harmful radon gas side effects.

What causes high radon levels?

One of the leading causes of high radon gas levels in a home is the natural radioactive decay of uranium. Uranium can be found in soil, rocks and water. As uranium decays, it releases radon gas into the atmosphere.

What is the highest level of radon?

Most or all of these states fall in zone one, which is one designated for parts of the U.S. with the highest levels of radon — four pico Curies per Liter (pCi/L) or higher. Zone two states, states with moderate radon levels of two to four pCi/L, include Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, Utah, and Wisconsin.

What can be done about high levels of radon?

If the radon level in your home is high, it is fixable. Installing a radon reduction (or radon mitigation) system will reduce high levels of indoor radon to acceptable levels. The system most commonly used is a vent pipe system, which includes a fan that pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.