National Radon Action Month

Some FAQ's

Where does radon come from?
Radon gas is a radioactive material that is naturally occurring and comes from the soil. It is decay product of Radium, another radioactive material, which is also naturally occurring.

What are the risks from radon gas?
The US EPA risk analysis table found in "A Citizen's Guide to Radon" indicates that at the 4pCi/liter radon level 7 out of 1000 people have the possibility of developing lung cancer. The chances of lung cancer increase greatly if a person smokes tobacco products.

How do I test for radon and can I do it myself?
One way is to have a professional come in who offers a radon testing service. These services may run as high as $300. Another way is to conduct it yourself with a home test kit. These kits can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $10 to $20, which includes the cost of mailing and reading the results. If you purchase a kit, ensure that the kit meets the performance requirements in the US EPA radon gas measurement proficiency program which should be stated on the box.

There are two types of kits that can be purchased. The first is a short-term test kit (2-7 days) and the other is a long-term test kit (3-12 months). If a short-term test is used, you should consider running a second test later and the two tests averaged to obtain a more accurate reading.

As a Missouri resident you can receive a free radon test kit from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

What do I do when I find high radon levels in my home?
Answer this first by asking: Have you retested to confirm that the levels are actually too high? In other words, if a short-term test (2-7 days) was used, did you conduct an additional test and the average of the two tests taken or was the reading from a long term test taken for 90 days or more? Radon levels can vary from day to day so conducting one short-term test may not reflect the true level of your home. 

If you have, and want to fix the problem; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has a list of mitigation specialists qualified to install mitigation systems in your home. The cost can range from $500 to $2500 depending on the size and construction of the home. Lists of mitigation specialists can also be obtained from the National Radon Safety Board (NSRB) and National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) websites. They are www.nrsb.org and www.radongas.org respectively.

Learn more about the national effort to take action against radon.