Where Does Radon Come From in a House?

• Soil
  • Soil radon is by far the most common source of indoor radon. Radon gas travels naturally into the porous disturbed soil and gravel bed surrounding foundations, then into structures through gaps, crevices, and pores in concrete.
  • Radon gas emitted from the earth beneath a structure's foundation can seep through minor gaps and crevices in the foundation and floor, entering the building and concentrating to tens, if not hundreds, of times the amount found naturally in outside air.
• Private water wells
  • If you have a private water well, radon from the water is released into the air in your house while bathing and washing dishes or clothes.
• Rocks, bricks, and concrete
  • Building elements such as rocks, bricks, gypsum, marble countertops, and concrete contain radium and emit radon into the house
• Water migration
  • Radon is somewhat soluble in water and consequently enters the home via water migration. Water is sucked into concrete by the capillary action of the pores or forced into concrete by hydrostatic pressure (seepage). 
  • The dissolved gas is released due to higher temperatures and lower pressure indoors. Water in sump pits also emits radon into the home.
• Outside air
  • Because radon gas is eight times heavier than air, it settles in basements of houses. Radon from uranium mine tailings has been reported to travel hundreds of miles and settle in dwellings. 
  • However, radon gas generated from the soil is more commonly drawn into basements through bulkhead doors or basement windows. It can even be pulled into the attic beneath the siding and sink into the house.

The only way to determine if you and your family are being exposed to high amounts of radon is to test your house for radon exposure.

• Do-it-yourself (DIY) test kits 
  • They are simple to use and inexpensive. DIY radon test kits are available at hardware stores, home improvement stores, and online retailers. 
• Hire a testing professional
  • When radon detection is part of a real estate transaction, such as a house inspection, a Radon Testing Professional is commonly asked to inspect the building for radon exposure.

It is usually considered that no level of ionizing radiation is fully safe, but one must attempt to define a reasonable risk threshold. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends an action level of four picocuries per liter in air.

If you realize that you live in an area with high levels of radon gas, you must ventilate your home to route the radon outside and seal any holes through which the gas may be entering. To guarantee that you're circulating efficiently, work with a radon mitigation specialist to develop a plan.

Ways to reduce radon exposure in your home include:

• Depressurization
  • Active soil depressurization is the most common method of lowering radon levels. A professional will install a tiny pump in the subflooring of your basement to reverse the air pressure difference between the home and the earth. This will divert the gas outside before it enters your home.
  • Other depressurization procedures differ based on your home and where the radon levels are most vital. A suction system, for example, can be installed in your drainage system or sump hole to pull the gas away from your home. 
• Sealing
  • Open sumps and floor drains can be sealed with specific coverings that enable water to pass through while preventing radon from entering your home. 
  • Caulking can be used to fix cracks in walls or building joints, and a plastic membrane can be used to cover exposed dirt in crawl areas.
• Mechanical ventilation
  • Consider a heat or energy recovery ventilator to improve ventilation in your house. This technology reduces radon levels by venting air outdoors. 
  • Following the installation of a mitigation system, make sure to run follow-up testing to check that it is functioning properly.

Make sure you have a radon detection kit in your home's most accessible areas. When it comes to radon, detection is the first step in finding solutions.

Breathing excess radon does not cause any short-term health effects, such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Headaches
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Fatigue

According to research, ingesting water with high radon levels may pose risks. However, the risks from drinking radon-containing water are much lower than those from breathing radon-containing air.

A complication of inhaling excess radon 

• As you breathe, radon gas decays into radioactive particles, which can lodge in your lungs. Small bursts of energy will be released as the particles split apart. 
• This can cause lung tissue damage and eventually lead to lung cancer throughout your life. 

Not everyone exposed to high levels of radon will develop lung cancer; the interval between exposure and illness development may be many years.

Your risk of getting lung cancer from radon depends mainly on the following:

• How much radon is in your home: Many radon-related lung cancer deaths can be prevented by testing for radon.
• Lower the story level, higher the concentration: Because radon concentrations are higher on lower floors of a property, a person sleeping in the basement is exposed to a more dangerous concentration of radon compared with a person sleeping in a bedroom on a higher floor of the home.
• How long you will live in your home: Estimated risks are based on the assumption that you will be exposed to the radon level in your house for about 70 years. When assessing your potential risk, consider the length of time you intend to spend in your house. However, keep in mind that other homes you've lived in or will live in may have the same or higher radon levels that you should take into account.
• Whether you are or were a smoker: Some epidemiological studies of underground miners (mainly uranium miners in the United States) suggest that radon exposure and smoking may have a synergistic connection. Smoking or radon exposure can raise the risk of lung cancer; however, exposure to both increases the risk significantly.

Radon gas in buildings is the leading source of radiation, but it is also the factor we have the most control over.