Office of Air and Radiation (OAR),
Office of Radiation
and Indoor Air (ORIA)
402-R-93-003, March 1993
EPA Recommends:
-
If you are buying a home or selling your home,
have it tested for radon.
- For new homes, ask if radon resistant construction feature have
been used.
- Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L)
or higher.
- Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many
cases may be reduced.
- Take steps to prevent device interference when conducting a radon
test.
EPA has developed this guide to help home buyers and
sellers address 8 key questions about radon:
-
Why Do You
Need to Test for Radon?
- If You are Selling a
Home, What Should You Do?
- If You are Buying a
Home, What Should You Do?
- If You are Buying a
Newly-Built Home, What Should You Do?
- How Can You
Get Reliable Radon Test Results?
- Types of
Radon Devices
- Length
of Time to Test
- If You Conduct a Short-Term
Test
- Using
Testing Devices Properly (If You Do the Test Yourself)
- EPA's Testing Checklist
- Getting
Reliable Test Results (If You Hire a Professional Radon
Tester)
- Interpreting
Radon Test Results
- What
Should You Do If You Find a High Radon Level?
-
Radon
Myths/Facts
- Where Can You Get More
Information about Radon?
PLEASE NOTE: The information in these pages have
been modified slightly from the original Agency publication to reflect
changes in technical terminology, specifically, in the descriptions of
radon measurement and mitigation service providers participating in
EPA's Radon Proficiency Program (RPP).
OVERVIEW
This guide is for anyone buying or selling a home
who wants to learn about radon.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas
You cannot see radon. And you cannot smell it or taste it.
But it may be a problem in your home. That is because when you breathe
air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In
fact, the Surgeon General 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.
You should test for radon
Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon
levels. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below
the third floor for radon.
You can fix a radon problem
If you find that you have high radon levels, there are
ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to
acceptable levels.
If you are selling a home...
EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it
on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test
results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix
any problems. This could be a positive selling point. (See Sections 2(a) & (b)
and 5(c)
& (d)
below for recommendations about how to test.)
If you are buying a home...
EPA recommends that you obtain the indoor radon level in a
home you are considering buying. Ask the seller for radon test results.
If the home has a radon reduction system, ask the seller for information
about the system.
If the home has not yet been tested, Sections 2(b) and 5(c) of
this Guide make recommendations about how to test now.
If you are buying a newly-constructed home, please refer
to Section
4.
The radon testing guidelines in the "Home Buyer's and
Seller's Guide to Radon" have been developed specifically to deal with
the time sensitive nature of home purchases and sales and the potential
for radon device interference.
The guidelines in the "Home Buyer's Guide" are somewhat
different from the guidelines in other EPA publications which provide
radon testing and reduction information for non-real estate situations.
The "Home Buyer's Guide" recommends three short-term testing options
when long-term testing is not possible. The "Home Buyer's Guide" also
recommends testing a home in the lowest level of the home which is
currently suitable for occupancy. This is because a buyer may choose to
live in a lower area of the home than that used by the seller.
Back to the Table
of Contents
1. WHY DO YOU NEED
TO TEST FOR RADON?
Radon Has Been Found In Homes All Over
the U.S.
Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes
all over the U.S. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in
soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically
moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through
cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home can trap radon
inside. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water (see Section
6 for more information about radon in water.)
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old
homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without
basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your
greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of
your time.
Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for information about radon in your area.
EPA And The Surgeon General Recommend That You Test Your
Home
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are
at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all
homes below the third floor for radon.
|
Why you cannot estimate radon levels based on
state, local and neighborhood radon
measurements
Do not rely on radon test results
taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon
level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have
different indoor radon levels. While radon problems may be more
common in some areas in the local community or state, any home may
have a problem. Testing your home is the only way to find out what
your radon levels are.
|
Back to the Table
of Contents
2. IF YOU ARE SELLING A HOME, WHAT SHOULD YOU
DO?
a. If your home has already been tested for radon...
If you are thinking of selling your home and you have
already tested your home for radon, provide your test results to the
buyer. Review the testing Checklist in Section 5(e)
to make sure that the test was done correctly.
No matter what kind of test you took, a potential buyer
may ask for a new test especially if:
- you took a test and the Checklist items were not met;
- you have renovated or altered your home since you tested;
- the buyer plans to live in a lower level of the house than you do,
such as a basement which is suitable for occupance but is not
currently lived in;
- or, your State requires disclosure of Radon information to buyers.
b. If the home has not yet been tested for radon...
Have a test taken as soon as possible. If you can, test
your home before putting it on the market because this may save time
during real estate transactions. You should test in the lowest level of
the home which is suitable for occupancy and finished. This means
testing in the lowest level that you currently live in or a lower level
not currently used, but which a buyer could use for living space without
renovations. The result of the radon test is important information about
your home's radon level that potential buyers may want to know.
You can test your own home or hire an
EPA-listed or state-certified radon tester. Call your state radon office for a list of these professional radon testers. If you test your own home, carefully follow the Checklist in Section
5(e).
Back to the Table
of Contents
3. IF YOU ARE
BUYING A HOME, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
a. If the home has already been tested
for radon...
If you are thinking of buying a home, you may either
decide to accept the test results from the seller, ask the seller to do
another test, or you may ask for a new test to be conducted by an
EPA-listed or state-certified
radon tester.
If you decide to accept the seller's test, make sure that
the seller (or whoever took the test) followed the testing Checklist in Section
5(e) and that he or she can confirm that all the items were
followed. If you plan to use the seller's test, find out as soon as
possible from the seller:
- the results of the previous test; and
- who conducted the previous test: the homeowner, a radon
professional or some other person; and
- where in the home the previous test was taken, especially if you
may plan to live in a lower level of the home. For example, the test
may have been taken on the first floor; however, you may want to live
in a basement which is not currently lived in but which is suitable
for occupancy without renovation.
- what, if any, structural changes or alterations have been made to
the house since the test was done. Such changes might affect radon
levels.
If you decide that a new test is needed, you should
discuss it with the seller as soon as possible. If you decide to use an
EPA-listed or state-certified radon tester, contact your state radon office for a list of radon testing companies.
b. If the home has not yet been tested for radon...
Make sure that a radon test is done as soon as possible.
You should consider including provisions in the contract specifying who
should conduct the test, what type of test to do, when to do the test,
and how the seller and the buyer will share the test results, test costs
and, if necessary, when radon mitigation measures should be taken and
who should pay for them.
Make sure that the test is done in the lowest level of the
home suitable for occupancy. This means the lowest level that you are
going to use as living space which is finished or does not require
renovations prior to use. A state or local radon official or an
EPA-listed or state-certified
radon tester can help you make some of these decisions.
If you decide to finish or renovate an unfinished area of
the home in the future, radon tests should be taken before and after the
area is finished. Radon reduction costs could be incurred if high levels
are found in that area. Generally, it is less expensive to install a
radon reduction system before or during renovations rather than
afterwards.
Back to the Table
of Contents
4. IF YOU
ARE BUYING A NEWLY BUILT HOME, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
New homes can be built with
radon-resistant features
that minimize radon entry and allow easier fixing of radon problems that
could occur later. These features cost less if installed during
construction than if added to an existing home. In most new homes, use
of radon-resistant features will keep radon levels to below 2 pCi/L.
Builders can incorporate radon-resistant features into the
homes they build. Some states, counties and local jurisdictions may
adopt radon-resistant construction features in their building codes,
which builders must then follow. Radon-resistant construction standards
can be applied depending on the radon potential in a particular area.
Many builders already use radon resistant building features.
New home buyers should ask if
radon-resistant
construction techniques have been built into the new home they are
considering for purchase. Buyers should also ask whether information
about radon is available. For custom-built homes, the buyer should
discuss radon-resistant features with the builder, including the
cost.
Occupants of newly constructed homes should have their
homes tested for radon. A long-term test will provide a reading that is
more representative of the home's year-round average radon level.
However, short-term tests (as described in Section
5(b)) may be used to determine if elevated radon levels exist.
Back to the Table
of Contents
5. HOW CAN YOU GET
RELIABLE RADON TEST RESULTS?
Even though you cannot see or smell
radon, it is not hard
to find out if you have a radon problem in your
home.
Since you cannot see or smell radon, special equipment is
needed to detect it. You can buy radon devices in retail stores when you
want to test your own home, send away for radon devices from EPA-listed
Analytical Service Providers
that offer mail order services, or you can hire an
EPA-listed or state-certified
radon tester who will test using radon devices that are appropriate for
the situation.
Preventing or Detecting Test Interference
There is a potential for test interference in real estate
transactions. There are a number of ways to prevent or detect test
interference such as:
- Print-out report which frequently records radon or decay product
levels to detect unusual swings;
- Motion detectors to determine whether the test device has been
moved or testing conditions have changed;
- Proximity detectors to reveal the presence of people in the room
which may correlate to possible changes in radon levels during the
test;
- Record of barometric pressure to identify weather conditions which
may have affected the test;
- Temperature record to help assess whether doors and windows have
been opened; and
- Taping windows shut to ensure closed house conditions (see Section
5(e)).
Home buyers and sellers should evaluate these and other
features when selecting a radon test alternative. Refer to the
"Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Measurements in Homes" for
information about radon testing devices and associated device
interference features.
Some of the most common radon testing devices are listed
below. Because new testing devices may be
listed by EPA or your state, you may want to check with your state radon office before you test to get the most up-to-date information.
Passive Devices
Passive radon testing devices do not need power to
function. they include radon detectors such as charcoal canisters,
alpha-track detectors, and charcoal liquid scintillation devices
that are available in hardware stores, drug stores, other stores, and by
mail, and electret ion chamber detectors generally only available
through laboratories. They are exposed to the air in the home for a
specified period of time and then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Both short-term and long-term passive devices are generally inexpensive.
Some of these devices may have features that offer more resistance to
test interference or disturbance than other passive devices.
Professional radon testers may use any of these devices to measure the
home's radon level.
Active Devices
Active radon testing devices require power to function.
Active radon detectors such as continuous radon monitors and
continuous working level monitors require operation by trained
testers. They work by continuously measuring and recording the amount of
radon or its decay products in the air of the home. Many of these
devices provide a report of this information which can reveal any
unusual or abnormal swings in the radon level during the test period. A
professional tester can explain this report to you. In addition, some of
these devices are specifically designed to deter and detect test
interference. Currently, some of the technically advanced active devices
offer the most extensive device interference features. Although these
tests may cost more, they may ensure a more reliable result.
General Information for All Devices:
A state or local radon official can explain the
differences between devices and recommend the ones which are most
appropriate for your needs and expected testing conditions. In addition,
EPA's Radon Measurement Protocols include technical information about
the differences between devices.
Make sure the radon device is
listed by EPA's Radon Proficiency
Program (RPP) or is state-certified. The device may display the
phrase "Meets EPA Requirements" or "EPA listed." Your state radon
office or a radon tester can tell you more about radon testing
devices.
Certain precautions should be followed to avoid
interference during the test period. Refer to the Checklist in Section 5(e)
for more information about how to get a reliable test.
In some areas, companies may offer different types of
radon service agreements. Some agreements let you pay a one-time fee
that covers both testing, and if needed, radon reduction. Contact your state radon
office to find out if these are available in your state.
Radon Test Device Placement
The testing device(s) should be placed in the lowest level
of the home suitable for occupancy. This means testing in the
lowest level currently lived in or a lower level not currently used,
such as a basement, which a buyer could use for living space without
renovations. The test should be in a room to be used regularly (like a
living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but not a kitchen,
bathroom or laundry room.
| Whether you test for radon
yourself or hire an EPA-listed or state-certified tester, all
radon tests should be taken for a minimum of 48 hours. A longer
period of testing is required for some
devices. |
There Are Two General Ways To Test Your Home for
Radon:
LONG-TERM TESTING: Long-term tests remain in your
home for more than 90 days. Alpha track, and electret ion
chamber detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A
long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you
your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test. If
time permits (more than 90 days) long-term tests can be used to confirm
initial short-term results between 4 pCi/L and 10 pCi/L. When long-term
test results are 4 pCi/L or higher, EPA recommends fixing the home.
SHORT -TERM TESTING: The quickest way to test is
with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home from two
days to 90 days, depending on the device. There are two groups of
devices which are more commonly used for short-term testing. The passive
device group includes alpha track detectors, charcoal canisters,
charcoal liquid scintillation detectors, and electret ion
chambers. The active device group consists of different types of continuous monitors. (see Section 5(a) above for more information.) Because radon levels tend to vary from
day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a
long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. However,
if you need results quickly, short-term testing may be used to decide
whether to fix the home.
If you are testing in a real estate transaction and you
need results quickly, any of the following three ways to conduct
Short-Term Tests are acceptable for determining whether the home should
be fixed. Any real estate test for radon should include steps to prevent
or detect device interference (see Section
5(a)).
| Short-Term Testing
Options |
What to do
Next |
Passive:
Take an initial
short-term test for at least 48 hours. After the first test has
been completed, take a follow-up short-term test for at least 48
hours.
or
Take two short-term tests at the same time in the same location
for at least 48 hours.
|
Fix the home if the average of two tests is 4 pCi/L or
more.
|
Active:
Test the home with a
continuous monitor for at least 48 hours. |
Fix the home if the average radon level is 4 pCi/L or
more.
|
When you are taking a short-term test, close your windows and
outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test,
except for normal entry and exit. If you are taking a short-term test
lasting less than 4 days, be sure to close your windows and outside
doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not
conduct short-term tests lasting less than 4 days during severe storms
or periods of high winds.
Place the test device at least 20 inches above the floor
in a location where it will not be disturbed and where it will be away
from drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the
test kit in place for as long as the test instructions say. Once you
have finished the test, reseal the package and send it immediately to
the lab specified on the package for analysis. You should receive your
test results within a few weeks. If you need results quickly, you should
find out how long results will take and, if necessary, request expedited
service.
When choosing a short-term testing
option...
There are tradeoffs among the short-term
test options. One test followed by another test (sequential) would
most likely give a better representation of the seasonal average.
Two tests taken at the same time (simultaneous) would improve the
precision of this radon test. Both active and passive devices may
have features which help to prevent test interference. Your state
radon office can help you decide which option is the best for
you. |
Follow this Checklist carefully so
that you get the most accurate radon test results. Radon testing is not
a complicated process, but must be done properly. Otherwise, the test
results may not be accurate and more testing may have to be done.
Disturbing or interfering with the test device or closed-house
conditions will invalidate the test results. The seller, or an
EPA-listed or state-certified
tester, should be able to confirm that all the items in this Checklist
have been followed. If the tester cannot confirm this, another test
should be taken.
Before the radon testing:
 |
Notify occupants of the importance of
proper testing conditions. Give occupants written instructions or
this document and explain the directions carefully.
|
|
|
If you conduct the test yourself, use a
radon measurement device listed in EPA's
Radon Proficiency Program
(RPP) or certified by your state and follow the manufacturer's
instructions that come with the device.
If you use a testing professional, hire only an
EPA-listed or
state-certified individual and ask to see his or her photo
identification. The contractor's identification number should be
clearly visible on the test report.
|
|
|
The test should include method(s) to
prevent or detect interference with testing conditions or with the
testing device itself.
|
|
|
Conduct the radon test for a minimum of
48 hours. Certain devices must be exposed for more than the 48
hour minimum.
|
|
|
Check to see if an active radon
reduction system is in the house. Before taking a short-term test
lasting less than 4 days, make sure the fan, if any, is operating
at least 24 hours before the beginning of the test.
|
|
|
EPA recommends that short-term radon
testing, which lasts for no more than a week in length, be done
under closed-house conditions. Closed-house conditions mean
keeping all windows closed, keeping doors closed except for normal
entry and exit, and not operating fans or other machines which
bring in air from outside. Note that fans that are part of a radon
reduction system or small exhaust fans operating for only short
periods of time may run during the test.
|
|
|
When doing short-term testing lasting
less than 4 days, it is important to maintain closed-house
conditions for at least 12 hours before the beginning of the test
and for the entire test period. Do not operate fans or other
machines which bring in air from the
outside.
|
During the radon test:
|
|
Maintain closed-house conditions during
he entire time of a short term test, especially for tests shorter
than one week in length.
|
|
|
Operate the home's heating and cooling
systems normally during the test. For tests lasting less than one
week, operate only air-conditioning units which recirculate
interior air.
|
|
|
Do not disturb the test device at any
time during the test.
|
|
|
If a radon reduction system is in place,
make sure the system is working properly and will be in operation
during the entire radon test.
|
After a radon test:
|
|
If a high radon level is found, fix the
home. Section
6 of this guide recommend the next steps you should take, such
as contacting a qualified radon reduction contractor to lower the
home's radon level.
|
|
|
Be sure that you or the professional
radon tester can demonstrate or provide information to ensure that
the testing conditions were not violated during the testing
period.
|
In many cases, home buyers and sellers may decide to have
the radon test done by a professional radon tester. Make sure that the
company or individual(s) you hire is listed in
EPA's Radon Proficiency Program
or your state's certification program, if it has one.
EPA's Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) is designed to help
you get reliable radon tests. RPP participants are required to show
their ability to make accurate tests and follow quality assurance and
EPA test guidelines. EPA has provided a list of RPP participants in your
state. These reports list Analytical Service providers (companies who
provide radon test results and testing devices) and listed individuals
in your area who follow EPA's residential radon testing requirements.
Make sure you ask to see the professional radon tester's photo I.D.
card.
WHAT WILL A PROFESSIONAL RADON TESTER DO?
An
EPA-listed or
state-certified radon tester knows the proper conditions, test
devices, and guidelines to get a reliable radon test. A
professional radon tester can also:
- Evaluate the home and recommend a testing approach designed
to make sure you get reliable results;
- Explain how proper conditions can be maintained during the
radon test;
- Emphasize to occupants of a home that a reliable test result
depends on their cooperation because any interference or
disturbance with the test or the closed-house conditions,
especially during short-term testing, will invalidate the test
result;
- Analyze and report measurement results to you; and
- Provide an independent test result by someone who is not
involved in the home sale.
Your state radon office may also have information about certification requirements for professional radon testers. Contact your State radon office for information about
EPA-listed and
state-certified contractors.
|
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. While this goal is not yet
technologically achievable for all homes, the radon levels in some homes
today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.
| Radon Test Results Measured in Two Different Units
Your radon test results may be reported in either picocuries
per Liter of Air (pCi/L) or Working Levels (WL). If your test
result is in pCi/L, EPA recommends you fix the home if your radon
level is 4 pCi/L or higher. If the test result is in WL, EPA
recommends you fix the home if the working level is 0.02 WL or
higher.
|
Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about
whether the home is at or above 4 pCi/L. This can happen when your
results are close to 4 pCi/L. For example, if the average of the two
short-term tests is 4.1 pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that the
year-round average is somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that
any radon exposure carries some risk; no level of radon is safe. Even
radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk
of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
Like other environmental pollutants, there is some
uncertainty about the magnitude of radon health risks. However, we know
more about radon risks than risks from most other cancer-causing
substances. This is because estimates of radon risks are based on
studies in humans (underground miners). Additional studies on more
typical populations are under way.
Your radon measurement will give you an idea of your risk
of getting lung cancer from radon. Your chances of getting lung cancer
from radon depend mostly on:
- The home's radon level; and
- The amount of time you spend in your home; and
- Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked.
Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious
health risk. If you smoke or are a former smoker, the presence of radon
greatly increases your risk of lung cancer. If you stop smoking now and
lower the radon level in your house, you will reduce your lung cancer
risk.
Go to the Radon Risk Comparison Charts
Back to the Table
of Contents
6.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FIND A HIGH RADON LEVEL?
High Radon Levels Can be Reduced
EPA recommends that you take action to reduce your home's
indoor radon levels if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher. It
is preferable to correct a radon problem before placing your home on the
market because then you have more time to address a radon problem. If
elevated levels are found during the real estate transaction, the buyer
and seller should discuss the timing and costs of the radon reduction,
as with any other aspect of the home purchase and sale.
The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how
your home was built and other factors. Most homes can be fixed for about
the same cost as other common home repairs, like painting or having a
new hot water heater installed. The average cost for a contractor to
lower radon levels in a home is about $1,200, although this can range
from $500 to about $2,500.
How To Lower The Radon Level In Your Home
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes.
Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of
most approaches to radon reduction. EPA does not recommend the use of
sealing alone to reduce radon because, by itself, sealing has not been
shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently. In most
cases, systems with pipes and fans are used to reduce radon. Such
systems are called "subslab depressurization," and do not require major
changes to your home. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the
home from below the concrete floor and the foundation. Similar systems
can also be installed in homes with crawl spaces. Radon mitigation
contractors may use other methods that may also work in your home. The
right system depends on the design of your home and other factors. As
with any other house-hold appliance, there would be costs associated
with the operation of the radon reduction system.
Ways to reduce radon are discussed in EPA's "Consumer's Guide to Radon
Reduction." Call your state radon office to get a copy.
You should also test your home again after it is fixed to
be sure that radon levels have been reduced. If your living patterns
change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a
basement) you should retest your home on that level. In addition, it is
a good idea to retest your home sometime in the future to be sure radon
levels remain low.
Radon and home renovations
If you are planning any major renovations, such as
converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is
especially important to test the area for radon before you begin
the renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem,
radon resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part
of the renovation. Because major renovations can change the level
of radon in any home, always test again after work is
completed.
|
What services do radon reduction (mitigation) contractors
provide?
Contractors who participate and become listed in EPA's
National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) are qualified to:
- Review testing guidelines and measurement results and determine if
additional measurements are needed;
- Evaluate the radon problem and provide you with a detailed,
written proposal on how radon levels will be lowered;
- Design a radon reduction system;
- Install the system according to EPA Standards and State or local
codes; and
- Make sure the finished system effectively reduces radon levels to
acceptable levels.
Picking someone to fix your radon problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home repairs; you may want to get references and more than one estimate. Call your state radon office for a list of the names of
EPA listed
or state-certified
radon reduction contractors in your area. Your state radon office may
also have information about certification requirements for these
contractors.
Selecting A Radon Reduction (Mitigation) Contractor
You should use a radon reduction
contractor who is listed as being proficient (in the current National
Radon Proficiency Program (RPP)) as a Residential Mitigation Service
Provider. This Program tests the technical knowledge of contractors to
ensure that they can correct radon problems. EPA-listed Residential
Mitigation Service Providers must follow specific guidelines which make
certain that their work meets minimum quality standards. EPA-listed
Residential Mitigation Service Providers carry photo I.D. cards and are
listed in the National RPP
Reports. EPA-listed Residential Mitigation Service Providers are
required to pass an initial exam and then follow the
Radon Mitigation
Standards. These standards are available from your state radon office. EPA-listed Residential Mitigation Service Providers are also required to review radon measurement results before beginning radon reduction work. In addition, an EPA-listed Residential Mitigation Service Provider must recommend that the home be tested again by an independent EPA-listed or state-certified radon measurement service provider after completing radon mitigation work to confirm that elevated levels have been reduced.
Should the Company Performing Your Radon Test Also be Your
Radon Reduction Contractor?
Be aware that there is potential conflict of interest if you
use the same company to conduct both the test and the radon
mitigation of the home. If the same radon testing professional
also offers to do radon mitigation of the home, make sure that the
testing is done according to the Testing
Checklist.
EPA's Radon Proficiency Program works to protect home buyers
and sellers. Make sure you only hire professional measurement and
mitigation contractors who are EPA-listed or state-certified.
Always ask to see the contractor's I.D. card.
You should also consider getting more than one cost estimate
and asking for references from radon measurement and mitigation
companies in your area.
Some states have additional certification requirements, and may require the homeowner to sign a waiver if one firm conducts both radon measurements and mitigations. Contact your state radon office.
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Radon in Water
Compared with radon entering the home through soil, radon
entering the home through water in most cases will be a small source of
risk. Radon gas can enter the home through well water. It can be
released into the air you breathe when water is used for showering and
other household uses. Research suggests that swallowing water with high
radon levels may pose risks, too, although risks from swallowing water
containing radon are believed to be much lower than those from breathing
air containing radon.
While radon in water is not a problem in homes served by
most public water supplies, radon has been found in well water. If you
have tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, and your
water comes from a well, have the water tested. If you are on a public
water supply and are concerned that radon may be entering your home
through the water, call your public water supplier. The testing device
and procedures used to find out the radon levels of your home's water
supply are different from the device and procedures used to test your
home's indoor air levels for radon.
Radon problems in water can be readily fixed. The most
effective treatment is to remove radon from the water before it enters
the home. This is called point-of-entry treatment. Treatment at your
water tap is called point-of-use treatment. Point-of-use devices usually
only treat a small portion of your water and are not effective in
reducing radon risk in water.
If high radon levels are found and the
home has a well, you can find publications and documents developed by
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water relating to radon in
drinking water and the radon in drinking water rule at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html.
Back to the Table
of Contents
7. Go to the RADON MYTHS Page
Back to the Table
of Contents
8.
WHERE CAN YOU GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RADON?
For more information on how to reduce your radon health risk,
go to EPA's Radon Home
Page, or ask your state radon office to send you these guides (the complete list of Radon-related publications is available at
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html),
you can find other Indoor Air-related publications at (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html):
If you plan to make repairs yourself, be sure to contact your state radon office for a current copy of EPA's technical guidance on radon reduction, "Radon Reduction Techniques for Detached Houses -- Technical Guidance."
Contact the EPA's Drinking Water Hotline (1 800 426-4791)
for information on radon in water.
SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH ADVISORY
"Indoor radon gas is a national health problem. Radon causes
thousands of deaths each year. Millions of homes have elevated
radon levels. Homes should be tested for radon. When elevated
levels are confirmed, the problem should be
corrected."
|
| Consumers need to know about the health of a house they are
considering purchasing, including whether there is a radon
problem, and if so, how to fix it. The Home Buyer's and Seller's
Guide to Radon provides practical consumer information that every
home buyer needs to know.
Consumer Federation of
America
|
For sale by the U.S. Government Printing
Office:
Superintendent of Documents,
Mail Stop:
SSOP,
Washington, DC 20402-9328.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency document number: 402-r-93-003,
1ast printing - March
1993,
U.S. EPA/Office of Air and Radiation/Office of Radiation and
Indoor Air,
Mail Stop-6604J,
401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, DC
20460.
You can call your State Radon Contact for a free copy of this guide.
Back to the Table
of Contents
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html
Last
Modified: July 21, 1999
