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Every minute of every day you breathe radioactive radon gas, which by itself is nothing to be frightened about. However, when you expose yourself to elevated levels of radon gas, you increase your risk for lung cancer.

According to Janet Ulmer, Cancer Control Director with the American Cancer Society, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking and accounts for as many as 33,000 lung cancer deaths each year. The ACS recommends radon monitoring and prevention to reduce the risk of cancer.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) defines radon as a “tasteless, odorless, colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil.” The only way to detect radon is to test for it. The DEP estimates that 40 percent of the homes in Pennsylvania have radon levels that exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guideline of 4 picocurries per liter (pCi/L), but only 10 percent of the homes in the state have been tested.

Don Hart with JCN Radon Services notes that homes in the local area are located over a geological structure known as the Reading Prong, which begins near Reading and extends into Southern New York. Homes on the Reading Prong typically have a higher level of radon than surrounding areas.

While anyone can test their home for high levels of radon, many home buyers choose to test a prospective property prior to purchase. If the radon levels are high, the buyers can request the sellers install a radon mitigation system to reduce the levels. Realtor Terry Snyder explains that once a seller knows the home has a radon problem, the seller has to disclose it to the next buyer, which puts the seller at a disadvantage if no corrective action is taken.

Homeowners have a couple options to measure the radon levels in their home. The first option is to buy a kit from a home improvement store, such as Lowe’s. The self-test kits cost approximately $25.

The second option is to hire a professional radon tester, such as a home inspection service or Don Hart with JCN Radon Services. A professionally administered radon test costs up to $125.

Mr. Hart explains the differences. The self-test kits use a charcoal canister to measure the radon, while the professional testers use a continuous tester to electronically record an air measurement every hour for two to four days.

According to Mr. Hart, the self-test kits do an adequate job of detecting radon problems, but the results vary by as much as 30 percent of the more accurate professional tests. If the test results range between 3 and 6 pCi/L, you should seek a second opinion from a professional radon tester. Otherwise, trust the results.

While one house may have a high radon level, its neighbor may have a low level compared to the EPA guideline. According to Mr. Hart, “Radon travels through fissures and veins underground.” The gas seeks a dry place to escape, which often corresponds to basements.

If your home has a radon level less than 4 pCi/L, breathe easy; otherwise, you need a mitigation system installed to reduce the levels. Mr. Hart provides an overview of the typical systems.

In an existing house, drill a hole through the basement slab and dig out a “suction pit” about the size of a gallon bucket. Attach a pipe to the suction pit and vent it to the outside of the house. A fan pulls the air from below the basement to the outside.

For new construction, Mr. Hart digs a trench in the stones before the basement concrete is poured. He lines the trench with a perforated pipe that eventually vents to the outside of the house. If radon levels remain high after the home is built, a fan can be installed to actively pull air from beneath the basement floor.

These systems seem simple, but they work because the radon levels are concentrated underground and the mitigation system creates a vacuum that pulls the concentrated radon gas from the earth, which reduces the measurable level of gas that seeps into your home. When the radon reaches the outside, it mixes with the air and the levels fall below the EPA guidelines.

The typical price to have a radon system installed ranges from $800 to $1200, but the final price varies based on the installation, according to Mr. Hart. Operating costs are approximately $40 per year.

The DEP regulates radon contractors, which helps ensure consistent testing and mitigation practices. Contact DEP for a list of qualified radon contractors. For more information, visit www.state.pa.us and enter PA keyword “DEP Radon.”

Originally published in the Daily Item