Radon be gone: The invisible, dangerous deadly gas



Radon be gone: The invisible, dangerous deadly gas
From the Extension Office by Wendy Rice


March 9, 2006

Last night as I listened to the news, they discussed Dana Reeves dying from lung cancer. She had never smoked and discussion ensued as to many people dying who hadn't smoked and why.

Radon meeting
CSU Cooperative Extension and San Juan Basin Health Department will host an informational meeting about radon at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Florida Room of the La Plata County Fairgrounds. For details or to secure a test kit prior to the program, contact Wendy Rice at 247-4355 or Marian Schaub of San Juan Basin Health Department at 247-4311, Ext. 203.

I wanted to call to say the Environmental Protection Agency has documented that 12 percent of lung-cancer deaths are attributed to radon exposure. Radon, a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas that seeps into our homes, converts a radon decay product that we inhale to negatively impact our lungs (especially if already breathing impaired.) This translates to approximately 22,000 deaths nationally and 350 in Colorado impacted by radon (Department of Health) each year.

Radon is the No. 2 cause of lung cancer. Leading organizations have joined EPA in stating that radon is a significant health concern and must be addressed. Awareness is a good start; a simple test of your home is the next step.

Radon causes more deaths than drownings, fires and airline crashes combined, only slightly fewer than deaths caused by drunk drivers nationally (National Safety Council report, 2000). Based on geology (subsurface uranium) and testings completed, EPA created three classifications based on potential for indoor radon concentrations. In Colorado, most counties are Zone 1 (greater than 4 pico curies/liter of air).

La Plata County is classified overall as Zone 2 (between 2-4 pico curies/liter). However, because the geology under each home is unique and construction is unique, the only way to determine the amount of radon decay is to do a simple test.

At a level of 10 pCi/l, if 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level, the risk of cancer from radon decay is 18 of 1,000 or comparable to a two-pack-a-day smoker. If one is a smoker, it increases to 150 of 1,000. For a home with a level of 4 pCi/l (upper limit by EPA), one who has never smoked has a 7/1000 chance of developing lung cancer. If one is a smoker, that number jumps to 6/100.

If you find high levels of radon decay products, there are simple techniques to bring indoor radon levels down to well within the "action level" established by EPA. When Durango tested in the mid-to late-1980s, repairs were expensive and recommendations were given out such as "seal up cracks and crevices in the basement" or "caulk around sumps." These are part of the fix, but by themselves, are not enough to bring levels down adequately. Homes now can be brought down well below 4 pCi/l.

CSU Cooperative Extension and San Juan Basin Health Department have partnered to host one more informational meeting about radon at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Florida Room in the La Plata County Fairgrounds. We will provide an overview about radon (what it is, where it comes from, how it can impact health and, most important, what can you choose to do). The upcoming program will explain what homeowners can do if they have tested and found radon levels in their home are above the EPA's recommended guidelines.

Homeowners who have tested their homes for radon are encouraged to bring their test results to the meeting. For those who have not yet tested, free test kits will be available at the session.

ricekw@co.laplata.co.us or 247-4355. Wendy Rice is family and consumer science agent for the La Plata County Extension Office.