The dangers of overexposure to radon gas are too severe to ignore. Known as the “silent killer,” radon causes an estimated 84,000 fatal cases of lung cancer globally each year, making it the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers. Radon can also be found in any home, regardless of its age, size, or location.
While homeowners can get accurate radon testing results from a variety of different technology tools, staying safe requires understanding the factors that can lead to fluctuations in radon levels. If homeowners rely solely on the one-time testing typically done during the home inspection process, they face the risk of exposing themselves to the deadly threat of radon-induced lung cancer.
A Variety of Factors Can Cause Radon Fluctuations
Authorities generally recommend testing for radon every five years. However, a variety of incidents that occur in and around a home can trigger the need for more frequent testing.
For example, construction projects can change a home’s structure and airflow, leading to higher radon levels. If projects cause cracks in foundations or slabs, radon and other soil gases can be drawn through the new openings and accumulate in the home.
Accurate radon testing is especially important following any work done to home heating, cooling, or ventilation systems. Effective ventilation plays a key role in moving radon out of a home, and any change to a system can potentially increase the draw of soil air into the living space or reduce the amount of fresh air needed for dilution.
Seasonal changes outside the home can also affect radon levels experienced inside. In colder months when heating systems are in use, a reduction in the indoor air pressure on lower floors can increase the draw of radon from the surrounding soil — a scenario known as the “stack effect.”
In warmer months when windows are open, increased ventilation can more effectively dilute radon levels inside the home. However, if warmer weather leads to an uptick in the use of air conditioning systems, homes can experience an increased draw of radon from the soil, similar to what is experienced when heating units are used in the winter.
Severe storms and high winds can also increase the amount of radon entering a home. By blocking the dissipation of radon from the ground to the outside air, weather events can increase the amount of radon available in the soil and cause more to enter homes through holes in foundations. Major geological events, such as earthquakes, can also lead to higher radon levels due to the changes they cause to topography or home structures.
Ongoing Radon Monitoring Provides the Most Reliable Readings
Real-time continuous radon monitoring is the optimal solution for accurate radon testing. Because levels can fluctuate quickly, even changing from day to night, periodic readings can easily miss the signs that could cue homeowners that they are facing danger from radon exposure.
Modern radon monitoring devices use pulsed ionization chambers to provide accurate real-time readings in one-hour increments. Unlike conventional one-time test kits that capture air samples in charcoal canisters, continuous radon monitors can provide ongoing, accurate radon testing 24/7 year-round without the need for analysis in a lab.
Radon monitors can also be moved to different locations throughout a home, allowing homeowners to quickly gauge if there are radon hotspots that pose a threat. Some monitors keep track of readings to show homeowners the trends in radon levels over time through a mobile app.
Although the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that homeowners take action to reduce radon levels higher than 4 pCi/L, the World Health Organization (WHO) says homeowners should address radon if readings find it to be above 2.7 pCi/L. Real-time radon monitoring empowers homeowners to quickly know when action is needed and to track how effective the action is at addressing radon levels.
Radon Mitigation Systems Can Significantly Reduce Radon Levels
Because radon enters homes from the surrounding soil, mitigation systems typically seek to decrease radon levels through a process known as active soil depressurization. A depressurization system forces radon from the soil under a home into the surrounding air by utilizing a system of fans and suction pipes. Once in the outside air, radon is diluted to levels that are not harmful.
Homeowners installing depressurization systems should continue monitoring their radon levels to ensure the system works effectively. While authorities recommend one-time testing at least every two years after a system has been installed, real-time monitoring can quickly alert a homeowner to system failures as soon as they occur, preventing exposure to elevated radon levels over time.
Regular radon testing is one of the most important things homeowners can do to keep themselves and their families safe. Real-time radon monitoring devices empower testing that is fast, accurate, and sensitive to fluctuations in radon levels, ensuring the threat of radon-related lung cancer can be detected and addressed before harm is done.
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