The Detrimental Health Effects of Radon and How to Avoid Them: Information for the Homeowners, Schools, and Real Estate Professionals

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The Detrimental Health Effects of Radon and How
to Avoid Them Information for the Homeowners,
Schools, and Real Estate Professionals

• Craig M. Audet
• Walden University

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This educational slide presentation on radon it
arranged in four modules

• Module 1 contains general information on radon
  and its adverse health effects
• Module 2 contains information for homeowners
• Module 3 contains information for school systems
• Module 4 contains information for Real Estate
  professionals

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• What is radon?
• Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless
  radioactive gas
• Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium
  in soil, rock and water
• Radon can be found all over the U.S.
• Radon can get into any type of building - homes,
  offices, and schools - and result in a high
  indoor radon level
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• Where is radon found?
• Radon is found in soil and in water
• Radon in water is an inhalation and ingestion
  risk
• Most risk is from water usage
• Not usually a problem in surface water
• Problems are more likely from ground water, e.g.,
  a private well or a public water supply system
  that uses ground water
• Radon from the soil is usually a much larger risk
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• How does Radon Get into Buildings?

• Radon gets in through
• Cracks in solid floors
• Construction joints
• Cracks in walls
• Gaps in suspended floors
• Gaps around service pipes
• Cavities inside walls
• The water supply

Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)
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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• Scope of the Problem
• Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. has
  elevated radon levels.
• Radon problems can also be found in
• Schools
• Businesses
• Workplaces
• Daycare and childcare facilities
• Other buildings
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• EPAs Map of Radon Zones
• Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988
• Areas of the U.S. with the potential for elevated
  indoor radon levels
• Assigns each of the 3,141 counties in the U.S. to
  one of three zones based on radon potential
• Can to assist national, state, and local
  organizations in targeting their resources and to
  implement radon-resistant building codes
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-2)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• EPAs Map of Radon Zones
• The Map uses five factors of radon potential
• indoor radon measurements
• geology
• aerial radioactivity
• soil permeability
• foundation type.
• Zone 1 counties (red zones)
• have the highest radon potential
• greater than 4 pCi/L
• Zone 2 counties (orange zones)
• have moderate radon potential
• between 2 and 4 pCi/L
• Zone 3 counties (yellow zones)
• have a low radon potential
• less than 2 pCi/L.

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• EPAs Map of Radon Zones
• Important points in regard to The Map
• All homes should test for radon, regardless of
  geographic location or zone designation
• There are many thousands of individual homes with
  elevated radon levels in Zone 2 and 3
• EPA recommends that this map be supplemented with
  any available local data in order to further
  understand and predict the radon potential of a
  specific area.
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-2)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects
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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• Radon Health Effects
• Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer
  among non-smokers
• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer
• Responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths
  every year
• The U.S. Surgeon General issued a national health
  advisory for radon on January 13, 2005
• Test homes for levels
• Remedy problems as soon as possible
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-3)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• Radon Health Effects
• The risk of lung cancer is higher among smokers
  who are exposed to high radon levels.
• Risk for smokers exposed to 10 pCi/L over a
  lifetime getting lung cancer is 150 per 1000
  people
• Risk for a non-smokers is 18 per 1000 people
• The chances of getting lung cancer depend on
• the level of exposure
• the total time of exposure
• smoking history
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-3)

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Module 1 Radon and its Adverse Health Effects

• Radon Health Effects
• Radon gas decays into radioactive particles
• Particles get trapped in the lungs
• As they break down they release small amounts of
  energy
• This energy can damage lung tissue and lead to
  lung cancer over the course time
• The amount of time between exposure and the onset
  of lung cancer can be many years
• Not all those exposed develop lung cancer
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-3)

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Module 2 Information for Homeowners

• Radon Testing
• The only way to know if you have a radon problem
• Water testing
• Public water supply check with water provider or
  test
• Private well test
• If a problem exists, there are two ways to
  remediate
• Point of entry treatment
• Point of use treatment
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)

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Module 2 Information for Homeowners

• Radon Testing
• Air testing
• Recommended by EPA Surgeon General
• All homes below the 3rd floor
• Average indoor level 1.3 pCi/L
• Two ways to test
• Short-term testing
• Test remains for 2 to 90 days
• May not provide result equitable to levels for
  the entire year
• Long-term testing
• Test remains for more than 90 days
• Reading more equivalent to year-round level
• If levels are above EPA action level of 4pCi/L ,
  fixing the home is warranted

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Module 2 Information for Homeowners

• Radon Testing
• Air testing
• Reducing radon in the home
• Soil suction radon reduction system
• Pulls radon from under house and vents it outside
• No major changes to home
• Effective and cost efficient
• New homes can be built with this system

Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-1)
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Module 2 Information for Homeowners

• Radon Testing
• January is National Radon Action Month
• Four things homeowners can do
• Test your home
• Attend a National Radon Action Month event
• Spread the word
• Buy a radon-resistant home
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-4)

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Module 2 Information for Homeowners

• Additional Resources
• EPA's Drinking Water Hotline at [phone] or
  at www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html
• EPA Radon Publications at http//www.epa.gov/radon
  /pubs/index.htmlindex1
• Your State Radon Contact at http//www.epa.gov/ra
  don/whereyoulive.html
• Radon Information Resources at http//www.epa.gov/
  radon/rnxlines.html

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• EPA and Schools
• EPA recommends testing all schools for radon
• 1988 study of schools in Fairfax County, Virginia
• Findings used to develop Radon Measurement in
  Schools - An Interim Report.
• Used as a guide for measuring radon in schools
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 1993)

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• EPA and Schools
• 1989-1990 School Protocol Development Study
• Further examines how to conduct radon
  measurements in schools.
• Study suggested that elevated radon levels
  (levels 4pCi/L) exist in some schools in every
  state.
• Most elevated measurements were greater than 4
  pCi/L
• Several schools found with levels well over 20
  pCi/L
• Some found with concentrations over 100 pCi/L
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 1993)

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• EPA and Schools
• EPA also conducted a National School Radon Survey
• Provides a statistically valid representation of
  the levels of radon in schools at the national
  level
• Results show widespread radon contamination
• EPA estimates that 19.3 of U.S. have at least
  one room with short-term radon levels above 4
  pCi/L
• In total, over 70,000 schoolrooms have short-term
  radon levels above 4 pCi/L
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 1993)

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• EPA and Schools
• The EPA recommends same testing method of short
  and long-term testing.
• If necessary, proceed with diagnostics and
  mitigation plans
• Schools should conduct initial measurements in
  all frequently occupied rooms in contact with the
  ground
• Usually classrooms, offices, laboratories,
  cafeterias, libraries, and gymnasiums.
• Future retesting should be done
• After significant changes to the building
  structure or the HVAC system.
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 1993)

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• Summary of EPA Recommendations
• Initial short-term tests in all frequently
  occupied, ground contact rooms
• Initial testing during the coldest months when
  the heating system is operating and windows and
  doors are closed
• Short-term test of 2 to-5 days should be
  conducted on weekdays with the HVAC system
  operating normally
• If the short-term test shows level in a room is 4
  pCi/L or greater, conduct either a second
  short-term or a long-term test to confirm
• EPA does not recommend that schools use a single
  short-term test result for determining action
• Duplicates and blanks should accompany all
  testing programs
• Trained school personnel or a RMP-listed
  measurement service should supervise and/or
  conduct the testing program.

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Module 3 Information for Schools

• Additional Resources
• EPA Radon Publications at http//www.epa.gov/radon
  /pubs/index.htmlindex1
• Radon Links - Kids, Students and Teachers at
  http//www.epa.gov/radon/justforkids.html
• State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) Program at
  http//www.epa.gov/radon/sirgprogram.html

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Module 4 Information for Real Estate
Professionals

• Federal Housing Commissioner
• 2004 issued radon gas notice
• Required a release agreement in all sales
  contracts for HUD properties
• Notifies purchasers of potential health problems
  of radon
• Use of the agreement expired on May 31, 2005. 
• Agreement was used in the purchase of
  approximately 78,000 properties
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-5)

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Module 4 Information for Real Estate
Professionals

• Federal Housing Commissioner
• 2006 informed FHA mortgagees about revisions to
  its home inspection form
• Reaches millions of homebuyers
• Section on radon included
• EPA and U.S. Surgeon Generals recommendation
• EPA's 1-800-SOS-Radon hotline.
• Mortgagees required to provide the form to
  prospective homebuyers
• Form is mandatory for all FHA-insured mortgages
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-5)

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Module 4 Information for Real Estate
Professionals

• Section 203(k) Mortgage Financing Program
• HUDs primary tool for improving single family
  homes
• Program allows home buyers to finance the
  improvement of a home
• Reducing radon levels in a home is eligible
• The total cost must be at least 5,000
• An important tool for expanding home ownership,
  revitalizing homes, neighborhoods and
  communities, and for making homes healthier and
  safer for those who occupy them.
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-5)

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Module 4 Information for Real Estate
Professionals

• The Radon Mitigation System Inspection Checklist
• Home inspectors offer radon mitigation system
  inspections to home inspection clients
• Created by the American Society of Home
  Inspectors in cooperation with the EPA's Indoor
  Environments Division
• Checklist promotes radon awareness, testing, and
  mitigation
• Inspection results indicate whether the home has
  a mitigation system
• Encourages the verification that indoor radon
  levels are below 4 pCi/L
• Checklist constructed using several sources
• EPA technical radon mitigation and
  radon-resistant documents,
• Radon inspection checklists used by state radon
  programs
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-5)

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Module 4 Information for Real Estate
Professionals

• EPA Video
• Breathing Easy What Home Buyers and Sellers
  Should Know About Radon
• Primary audiences are home buyers, sellers, real
  estate agents, brokers
• Provides a visual educational tool
• How to best include radon in residential real
  estate transactions
• Covers the basics
• Radon science
• Lung cancer risk
• Home inspection
• Building a new home radon-resistant
• Testing fixing a home
• Disclosure
• State radon offices
• Hotline web resources
• Key radon numbers
• Source (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009-5)

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References

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009-1). A
  Citizen's Guide to Radon. Retrieved July 17,
  2009, from US EPA http//www.epa.gov/radon/pubs
  /citguide.html
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009-2).
  EPA Map of Radon Zones. Retrieved July 17, 2009,
  from U.S. EPA http//www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.h
  tml
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009-3).
  Radon Health Risks. Retrieved July 17, 2009,
  from U.S. EPA http//www.epa.gov/radon/healthris
  ks.html
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1993).
  Radon Measurement in Schools, Revised Edition.
  Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing
  Office.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009-4).
  Radon National Action Month. Retrieved July 17,
  2009, from U.S. EPA http//www.epa.gov/radon/nra
  m/public.html
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2009-5).
  Real Estate and Radon. Retrieved July 17, 2009,
  from U.S. EPA http//www.epa.gov/radon/realestat
  e.html