What
Is Radon?What
Is Radon?Radon is radioactive gas, element number 86 on the periodic chart of elements. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it.
Radon comes from the breakdown, (radioactive decay) of radium, a natural element found in our soil. As radium, (element number 86) decays it produces radon gas which in turn decays into many other radioactive elements. Each time this multi step decay process takes place, radioactive alpha particles are emitted. It is these alpha emitters that are responsible for the damage to our health.
How
Does Radon Get In?Radon can enter your home through your water supply, especially if you use well water. Radon is produced in the ground from trace amounts of uranium, the gas can travel great distances through porous soil and cracks in the rock. Radon dissolves in water and can contaminate your underground water supply. When radon enters your home through your water, it can raise the radon concentrations in your air whenever the water is used.
What
Are The Health Effects Of Radon?Radon causes lung cancer. Radon is second only to cigarette smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer death. Both are preventable. Radon kills an estimated 21,000 people every year in the U.S. with the most susceptible being children (because their lungs are still developing), smokers (because of the doubling impact) and those that stay inside the most. Drinking water containing radon also presents a risk of developing internal organ cancers, primarily stomach cancer. However this risk is smaller than the risk of developing lung cancer from radon released to air from tap water.
How
Does Radon Cause Lung Cancer?As you breathe, radon enter the lungs and continues its decay process. Each time a decay reaction occurs, the lungs' cells receive a small burst of radiation which, can damage the lung tissue or can cause the cells to mutate and develop into lung cancer.
What
Levels In Drinking Water Are Safe?There are no known safe levels of radon so less is always better. It is recommended that your levels be less than 4,000 pCi/L which is estimated to add 4 pCi/L of radon to your air.
How
Do I Test For Radon In My Water?To test for the presence of radon in your water first locate a source of fresh drinking water (avoid soft or treated water faucets). If your faucet has an aerator, remove it. Next, turn on the cold water and let it run for 5 minutes. Fill a bucket or bowl trying not to aerate the water. Dunk the test kit vial into the bucket/bowl and cap the vial under the water. Making sure there are no air bubbles. Dry the vial and place in the bubble wrap pouch, fill out your data form and return it to our lab. It's that simple. When you receive your laboratory analysis you will also receive helpful information on reducing your radon risk. You should test your well water especially if you have tested your air and have found that you have a problem. If you haven't tested your air, the USEPA recommends that every home be tested.
If
There Is A Problem, How Do I Fix It?The most effective treatment you can apply is to remove radon from the water right before it enters your home. This is called point-of-entry treatment. There are two types of point-of-entry devices that remove radon from water:
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters (which use activated carbon to remove the radon), and
- Aeration devices (which bubble air through the water and carry radon gas out into the atmosphere through an exhaust fan).
GAC filters tend to cost less than aeration devices, however, radioactivity collects on the filter, which may cause a handling hazard and require special disposal methods for the filter.