Radon
 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home.  When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer.  In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.  If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. (http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html )

In reality, there are a number of factors that tend to overstate the potential risk with radon.  The first are the conservative assumptions made in creating a computer-based risk assessment (the radon death risk assessment is not based on actual death count).  These risk assessments assume that the affected person lives in the affected room (at 4.0 pCi/l) for 19 hours per day, for 72 years.  Under these conditions, the calculated risk, per EPA, of dying from radon is about the same as your risk of drowning. We believe that this level of risk does not support the level of fear, or expenditures to reduce the perceived risk, that surrounds radon.

To put it another way, let's assume you are a home buyer with a home at 4.0 pCi/l, and are considering spending $1,600 to $3000 to reduce the risk.  Would you also spend a similar amount to reduce your risk of drowning? Per EPA's risk calculations, the two risks are about equal. The difference is that one is calculated, using a set of conservative assumptions, the other would be based on better data.   

Further, many radon tests are calibrated high.  Per EPA, actual readings may be up to 3 times too high for short term (4 day) tests.  In other words, indoor air with a 2.0 pCi/l reality may be measured by short term equipment at 6.0 pC/l, resulting in unwarranted fears and unneeded expenditures.

Finally, EPA's statement located above states that "when you breathe air containing radon... you can increase your risk".  In reality, if you live on Earth, you have breathing radon since you were born.  Common background (outdoor) concentrations are usually in the range of 1-2 pCi/l.  A reasoned thought process will conclude that we cannot go anywhere - except perhaps space - to reduce our inhaled radon concentration to zero.

How to Address Radon Problems

Though radon issues can sometimes be overstated, an elevated reading obtained by a competent and ethical individual may be an issue that should be addressed.  In many cases, the problem can be addressed with simple and inexpensive means.  This may include sealing the cracks and pathways, then re-testing.  In other cases, sub-slab mitigation may be warranted.  We will be pleased to work with our clients in identifying the nature and extent of any radon issues, and consulting for proper mitigation.

(c) Crossroads Engineering Inc
Garth Haslem / Josh Shepherd
(801) 763-1932
garth@crossroadsengineers.com
Fax (801) 763-0963