David Paule
Well Known Member
Here in this part of Colorado, we often have high levels of radon in our homes. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes out of the ground under our homes. Relatively low doses are a risk for lung cancer. Getting rid of it takes a straight-forward bit of work, which I won't go into, except to mention that it generally includes a suction applied below the house to exhaust the radon before it can enter the home.
You can see a map of the U.S. that shows relative levels across the country at https://www.homefacts.com/radon.html. Click on your state for a closer look by county.
Radon can't be detected except with a radon tester. There's no smell to it.
My neighborhood association has a radon tester and I borrowed it. It spent a week in the unfinished basement, a week in the main part of the house, and a week in the shop, otherwise known as a garage among people who aren't building airplanes there. Since I've been spending 500 to 600 hours a year there, it seemed a good place to check.
The results are in picocuries per liter:
8.8 in the basement,
8.6 in the house,
and 17.9 in the shop.
What's the risk? I'm a non-smoker, and the numbers get much worse for smokers. But at a level of 8, about 15 people per thousand could get lung cancer. Out in the shop, for me, it's probably twice that.
But catch this: there is no safe level! But EPA recommends getting it fixed if it's over 4.0, and even there, the risk is about 7 people per thousand getting lung cancer.
I've got to get quotes and get this thing fixed, for sure. Especially since now it's out on the internet.
Dave
You can see a map of the U.S. that shows relative levels across the country at https://www.homefacts.com/radon.html. Click on your state for a closer look by county.
Radon can't be detected except with a radon tester. There's no smell to it.
My neighborhood association has a radon tester and I borrowed it. It spent a week in the unfinished basement, a week in the main part of the house, and a week in the shop, otherwise known as a garage among people who aren't building airplanes there. Since I've been spending 500 to 600 hours a year there, it seemed a good place to check.
The results are in picocuries per liter:
8.8 in the basement,
8.6 in the house,
and 17.9 in the shop.
What's the risk? I'm a non-smoker, and the numbers get much worse for smokers. But at a level of 8, about 15 people per thousand could get lung cancer. Out in the shop, for me, it's probably twice that.
But catch this: there is no safe level! But EPA recommends getting it fixed if it's over 4.0, and even there, the risk is about 7 people per thousand getting lung cancer.
I've got to get quotes and get this thing fixed, for sure. Especially since now it's out on the internet.
Dave
Last edited: