RADONBasic Facts, Risks, Health Effects, and Testing

Basic FactsWhat is radon and how does it get into your home

What is Radon?

A naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released in

rock, soil, and water

Odorless, invisible, and tasteless

Can’t detect it without testing

Source: Basic Radon Facts, EPA

Image: http://www.usamortgagesolutions.com/

Formation

Formed through the natural decay of radioactive

metals to a radioactive gas in soil, rock, and water

𝑈𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑢𝑚 → 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 → 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑛

Image: http://www.radonfixit.org/

How Radon Enters Your Home

Air pressure in houses is

usually lower than that of the

surrounding soil so houses act

like a vacuum drawing air

(radon) into them

Points of entry

Cracks in foundation

Loose pipe fittings

Improperly sealed floor drains

Sump pumps

Well water

Image: http://siouxlandinspection.com/

Radon Doesn’t Discriminate

Radon can be present at dangerous levels

in your home regardless of its style or age

Basement, slab, or crawl space

New or old house

Well sealed or drafty

Radon in Well Water

Radon can be found in groundwater

Studies have found that the levels contained in the

drinking water are not at high enough levels to cause

cancer like that found in the air

Biggest concern with radon in groundwater is when

you are using the water for activities like showering

where it can be dispersed into the air you breath

Can get well water tested

Contact Delaware County Water and Sanitation-

Dennis Lyons (563)927-5925 or Iowa State Hygienic

Lab 1-800-421-4692

Radon RisksRadon risks and levels based upon geography

Units of Radon Measurements

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L)

A measurement of radioactivity within a defined space

Curie is a unit of radioactivity equivalent to 1 gram of radium

Pico means a trillionth

National Radon Levels

Average radon levels

Outdoors: 0.4 pCi/L

Indoors: 1.3 pCi/L

U.S. Surgeon general & EPA recommended action

level: 4.0 pCi/L

1 out of 15 homes has radon above the EPA

recommended action level

Source: Iowa AIR Coalition, IDPH

National Radon Zones

State Radon Levels Iowa has the highest percentage of homes above

the EPA recommended action level

Approximately 5 out of every 7 homes

Average indoor radon level: 8 pCi/L

Local Radon Levels

Results under 2 pCi/LResults between 2 and 3.9 pCi/LResults 4 pCi/L and above

Extreme Variability

Levels can very regionally based upon

geology, but also can vary from house to

house

Just because your neighbors’ house is safe,

doesn’t mean that yours is

Health EffectsRadon is the second leading cause of lung cancer

Effects of Radon on Your

Lungs

No immediate symptoms

Causes cellular damage in the lungs that can lead

to lung cancer

U.S. Deaths Comparison

21,000

17,400

8,000

3,900 2,800

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Death

s Per

Year

Sources: EPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, CDC’s

1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and control Report,

2002 National Safety Council Reports

Radon RiskRadon

Level

(pCi/L)

Never Smoked Smokers

People that could get

lung cancer if 1,000

people were exposed

to radon at this level

over a lifetime

The risk of cancer from

radon exposure

compares to

People that could get

lung cancer if 1,000

people were exposed

to radon at this level

over a lifetime

The risk of cancer from

radon exposure

compares to

20 3635 times the risk of

drowning260

250 times the risk of

drowning

10 1820 times the risk of

dying in a home fire150

200 times the risk of

dying in a home fire

8 154 times the risk of

dying in a fall120

30 times the risk of

dying in a fall

4 7The risk of dying in a

car crash62

5 times the risk of

dying in a car crash

2 4The risk of dying from

poison32

6 times the risk of

dying from poison

1.3 2(Average indoor radon

level)20

(Average indoor radon

level)

0.4

(Average outdoor

radon level)

(Average outdoor

radon level)

Sources: EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports

Radon Fatalities in Iowa

Approximately 400 deaths annually in Iowa as the result

of exposure to radon

25 % more deaths from radon than traffic fatalities in

Iowa

Traffic Fatalities in 2016: 404

Source: Iowa AIR Coalition, Iowa DOT

TestingSimple and inexpensive tests make it easy to

determine radon levels

Types of Tests

Do-It-Yourself Test Kits

Short Term (2-90 days)

Quick results

Great for winter testing

Long term (3-12 months)

Better picture of long-term radon levels

Professional Measurement Specialist

Certified by the State of Iowa

More precise results with capability to see daily

fluctuations

Do-It-Yourself Test Kits Place in the lowest lived-in level of the home

Put in room used regularly, but not kitchen or

bathroom

Family room, den, and bedrooms are ideal test

locations

Place 2-6 feet off of the floor where it will not be

disturbed

Away from drafts, fans, heat sources, high humidity,

and exterior walls

Keep windows and doors shut while testing except for

normal entry/exit of the home

Don’t do in unusually severe storms or periods of

unusually high winds

Air-Chek, Inc. Radon Test Kits

Available from the ISU Extension and Outreach Delaware County Office.

Fill it out

NameAddress of Test

City, State, Zip CodeEmail or Fax Number

Room

Squeeze & push

cardboard down

Hang it up

Remove cardboard and seal it

Seal immediately upon

completion of test and prior

to removing test from the

area being tested

Complete data

NameAddress of Test

City, State, Zip CodeEmail or Fax Number

Mail it in

Test Results

Will email results to you within a week if you provide

an email address

Will still mail you a letter with your test results within

two weeks

What to Do Next• Retest at least every two years or if building

structure is modified

• Consider mitigating if radon levels between 2-4 pCi/L0-4 pCi/L

• Retest again using a long-term detector

• If above 4 pCi/L, mitigate4-8 pCi/L

• Retest again using a short-term detector

• Average the test results

• If above 4, pCi/L, mitigate8-80 pCi/L

• Immediately contact the Iowa Department of Public Health at (515) 281-4928> 80 pCi/L

Source: The 10 Step Radon Action Plan, IDPH

Buying and Selling HomesWhat home-buyers need to know before purchasing a house

What to do

If buying a home, have it tested

If high, request that it be mitigated

If selling a home, test prior to listing it and keep

paperwork

If high, mitigate it

If building a new home, request radon-resistant

construction

Disclosure Law

Iowa has a disclosure law for the seller to indicate

the known presence of radon

Relators have to give home buyers and sellers a

radon fact sheet to make them aware of the

potential presence and danger of radon in the

home they’re considering purchasing

Radon Resistant ConstructionHow to build radon resistant homes

Charity Loecke

Delaware County Public Health

Charity.Loecke@regmedctr.org

P: (563)927-7752

613 West Main St.

PO Box 359

Manchester, IA 52057

http://www.regmedctr.org/services/public-

health/default.aspx

Questions

Jade Hargrafen

Program Director, Delaware County

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

jadeh@iastate.edu

P: (563)927-4201

1417 N. Franklin St.

PO Box 336

Manchester, IA 52057

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/delaware/

Matt Griswold

Radon Mitigation Specialist since 1999

EPA License #M00036 and Insured

Midwest Systems

midwestsystems@live.com

P: (563) 920-8653

www.midwestradonsystemsiowa.com