Testing for radon in the air is accomplished using passive or active devices placed in the building. Transient weather such as wind and changes in barometric pressure can affect short-term concentrations as well as ventilation, such as open windows and the operation of exhaust fans. A short term test (90 days or less) might not be an accurate assessment of a home's average radon level, but is recommended for initial testing to quickly determine unhealthy conditions. government has not set an action level for radon in water.Īir-radon levels fluctuate naturally on a daily and seasonal basis. states, such as Maine where radon levels are higher than the national average, recommend that all well water should be tested for radon. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommendation is to not test for radon in water unless a radon in air test shows concentrations above the action level. Radon in the air is considered to be a larger health threat than radon in domestic water. The World Health Organization's International Radon Project has recommended an action level of 100 Bq/m 3 (2.7 pCi/L) for radon in the air. No level of radiation is considered completely safe, but as it cannot be totally eliminated, governments around the world have set various action levels to provide guidance on when radon concentrations should be reduced. Testing A typical radon test kit Fluctuation of ambient air radon concentration over one week, measured in a laboratory There is no proven link between radon in water and gastrointestinal cancers, however, extremely high radon concentrations in water can be aerosolized by faucets and shower heads and contribute to high indoor radon levels in the air. Treatment systems using aeration or activated charcoal are available to remove radon from domestic water supplies. In particularly troublesome dwellings, air exchangers can be used to reduce indoor radon concentrations. Concrete slabs, sub-floors, and/or crawlspaces are sealed, an air pathway is then created to exhaust radon above the roof-line, and a radon mitigation fan is installed to run permanently. Mitigation of radon in the air by active soil depressurization is most effective. Radon is a significant contributor to environmental radioactivity and can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer. Radon mitigation is any process used to reduce radon gas concentrations in the breathing zones of occupied buildings, or radon from water supplies. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( November 2021) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Please help improve it to make it understandable to non-experts, without removing the technical details. Test kits, whether obtained free or purchased, include laboratory analysis and postage at no additional cost as part of this program.This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. Once the supply of pre-purchased kits has been exhausted, or if you wish to purchase additional kits, you can do so at the discounted price of $7 per test kit. While supplies last, these radon test kits are free to New Mexico residents, limited to one per household, on a first come, first served basis. Radon test kits can be requested online using the “New Mexico Radon Program” link at or by calling 1-80 and following the instructions for “The State of New Mexico Radon Test Kit Program” option. This and other indoor air quality publications can be ordered through the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse. EPA also 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. This document contains information on radon potential variations within counties. Important: Consult the EPA Map of Radon Zones document (EPA-402-R-93-071) before using this map.
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