Our mission is to ensure that people around the world take control of their air quality through simple, affordable and accurate technology solutions – making radon and air quality monitors as common as smoke detectors. Education efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of radon and other harmful indoor air pollutants, Carbon Dioxide and Volatile Organic Compounds, play a significant role in allowing us to further our mission. This is why we partnered with the American Lung Association last year and pledged to donate $1 for every Corentium Home and Airthings Wave sold on Airthings.com. The donations go directly to the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative to fund lung cancer research.

We started this partnership October 1, 2017 and are happy to say we will donate at least $25,000 by the end of it. For the first quarter, we have already donated $6,250!

LUNG FORCE initiative

Every five minutes a woman in the U.S. learns she has lung cancer and in the last 30 years the number of women dying from it each year has nearly doubled. Radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer and can affect anyone. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, killing 58 people per day in the United States alone. Education is key in our fight against this invisible threat. The American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE aims to unite and mobilize women against lung cancer.

We spend 90 percent of our time indoors, measuring Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is one of the most important steps we can take in preventing illness and increasing productivity, energy and good health. However, in order to care about IAQ you have to understand which gases are making your indoor air unhealthy and their effects on people – especially in an enclosed space like a home or office, where the gases accumulate and pollute our fresh air.

• Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas formed in the Earth’s crust
• It surrounds every one of us as part of the air we breathe
• It can enter a home or workplace through cracks in the foundations and other openings, for example around the hot water tank and pipes
• Due to radon’s fluctuating nature, long term, daily monitoring is necessary

We believe that Radon and Indoor Air Quality should be continuously monitored in every home and building where people spend their time. Our partnership with the ALA is an extension of our commitment to helping people breathe better and live better, which is why for every Corentium Home and Airthings Wave sold on Airthings.com through September 30, 2018, Airthings will donate $1 to the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative to fund lung cancer research*. It’s truly rewarding to be recognized as a partner and supporter among other major corporations that are also dedicated to the fight against lung cancer. We are excited to announce our first donation of $6,250 to the American Lung Association, and we’ll continue to make donations through September 2018.

_{*Airthings will donate $1 from each Corentium Home and Airthings Wave sold on Amazon.com from January 31, 2018 and on Airthings.com through September 30, 2018, with a minimum donation of $25,000 to the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative to support lung cancer research. For more information visit lung.org/airthings.}

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Clean air is a critical component to our health. Outdoor air pollution is the number one environmental cause of death, contributing to 50,000 premature deaths annually in the UK and approximately 7 million premature deaths worldwide. Indoor air can often be 5 to 10 times worse than outdoor air. As our outdoor air worsens globally, it is harder to clean our indoor air by simply opening a window.

When we think of outdoor air pollutants, we think of traffic, construction, farming and agriculture, but what about the pollutants inside your home or workplace? Or the hazards inside your children’s classrooms, daycares, or athletic program buildings. The truth is, we spend 90% of our time indoors. Indoor Air Quality can be degraded by outdoor sources, as well as by off-gassing from everyday items that we have in the spaces we spend our time. Optimizing ventilation systems, using air purifiers, and monitoring Indoor Air Quality is now a necessity.

Some of the most common causes of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are furniture; including mattresses, couches, chairs, etc.; carpets; particle board or plywood; household cleaners; dryer sheets; nail polish remover; paint; candles and air fresheners; toys; and more. You know that new car and new home smell? Some new furniture and materials cause off-gassing of VOCs for up to 5 years. Other concerns are high humidity, which often causes bacteria, dust mites and mold, as well as an increase of off-gassing of formaldehyde (another volatile compound that is used in the manufacturing of many household products.) All of these contaminants contribute to a range of negative health effects such as asthma, allergies and other respiratory issues.

Carbon dioxide or CO₂ is a natural part of the air we breathe. However, when indoors, it becomes trapped and concentrate to unhealthy levels quickly without good ventilation. Heightened levels of CO₂ contribute to headaches, restlessness, drowsiness, poor sleep, snoring and more. Fresh air contains about 400ppm (ppm is parts per million) of CO₂. Indoor CO₂ levels are acceptable from around 600 ppm and ideally shouldn’t rise above 1000ppm. At that level, symptoms will start to become obvious and productivity in classrooms, offices and more will decline.

Radon is another invisible threat and is found everywhere as part of the air we breathe. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, killing approximately 58 people per day in the U.S. alone. Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that enters buildings through cracks, drains and other small openings in the foundation of homes and buildings.

Good ventilation and fresh air, however, cleans your lungs and reduces negative side-effects, absenteeism in the workplace and in schools, and even reduces infectious disease transmission. In a recent study, good air quality (low in VOCs and CO2) was directly correlated to better decision making, higher cognitive ability and improvements in planning, staying prepared, and strategizing during crises.

There is a solution! Continuously monitoring your Indoor Air Quality allows you to visualize your indoor air and make changes to keep your family healthy. When you know what is hiding in your air, you gain knowledge and insight into how your air changes hour by hour, when to replace air filters, how to optimize your air filtration system and when to simply open a window and let fresh air in.

What can fresh air do for you? Fresh air helps clean your lungs, prevents airborne illnesses, improves intellectual performance and can also improve overall blood pressure and heart rates.

Airthings Wave Plus is the first Bluetooth connected and battery operated Indoor Air Quality monitor with radon detection, designed for all populated spaces to help ensure we’re breathing clean air. The new solution provides building managers, employers and homeowners with full visibility into the three most serious indoor air pollutants: radon, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Through the Airthings App and Dashboard, users have access to interpretations of IAQ data, and tips to reduce indoor air hazards, optimize ventilation and save energy. Temperature, air pressure and humidity are also monitored, and indication of occupancy is possible. Alternately, users can simply wave in front of the device to receive a color-coded visual indicator (green – good, yellow – warning, red – danger) of the overall air quality.

With the Wave Plus, breathing fresh, clean air has never been easier.

Article sources:

• http://www.who.int/airpollution/en/
• https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data

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The EU and WHO have announced a new basic safety standards directive within the EU, asking for each country to come up with a set of rules regarding radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer for those who breathe it for long periods of time.

New Directive

• The directive should be adopted by all Member States by 6 February 2018
• It requests the monitoring of radon levels in homes, public spaces, and workplaces
• A national action plan is needed to address long-term risks of exposure

How does it affect you?

Homeowners

• Radon concentration in dwellings (homes and residential areas) should be monitored
• Concentration level for indoor radon exposure cannot exceed 300 Bq/m3
• Homeowners and landlords need to properly assess the risk of radon exposure in the home

Public

• Radon concentration should be monitored in buildings with public access
• Places such as libraries, gyms, shopping malls, and hospitals need to be measured for radon
• The goal is to protect the health and safety of the general public

Employers

• Radon exposure in workplaces should not exceed 300 Bq/m3
• Employers need to ensure that the radon levels in the workplace do not exceed the legal limits
• Places such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and offices need to be measured

Just because these directives are coming into play, doesn’t mean you will see changes right away. You are your own best advocate: speak to your employer, the leader at your child’s kindergarten, the manager at your gym—anywhere that you or your family members spend a prolonged amount of time indoors, should be checked for radon. To learn more about your own radon levels, check out Airthings’ guide to responding to radon.

The basics of the Basic Safety Standards Directive

Starting February 2018, a set of new regulations will come into play in the European Union called the Basic Safety Standards Directive. The overall goal of the regulation is to protect the public from radon by ensuring that indoor radon concentrations are below 300 Bq/m3. Each country will provide their own set of regulations which will affect everyone including facility managers, employers, homeowners and the general public.

In short, individuals and businesses will need to regularly monitor their radon levels in dwellings, public spaces, and workplaces in order to follow the new regulations and minimize long-term health risks.

What is the plan?

Since the European Commission recognizes that there is an increased risk of lung cancer from long-term exposure to any indoor radon levels over 100 Bq/m3, individual national action plans are required. These action plans are necessary to address the long-term health risks of radon exposure.

The plan requires each individual country to ensure good building practices to prevent radon from entering buildings. EU countries may need to implement national building codes to ensure that future building projects will provide effective protection against radon. Countries will also need to consider remedial action of radon, post-construction.

Secondly, the plan requires the Member States to identify specific areas where radon concentration is expected to exceed the national reference levels. The plan suggests surveying indoor radon concentration in homes, public spaces and workplaces to estimate the distribution of radon levels and create a reference level of exposure. Long-term radon measurement instruments are needed in order to map and assess risk in different areas.

Thirdly, the action plan should consider how to deal with radon mitigation once measurement and risk assessment has been completed. It suggests that the individual nations should create guidance for methods of measurement and mitigation of radon. Furthermore, they could consider a plan of financial support for homes with very high radon concentrations.

Lastly, the plan aims to increase public awareness of the risks of radon, methods and tools for measurements and remedial measures. For instance, it is recommended that the EU countries create a strategy for communicating the risks of radon to “increase public awareness and inform local decision makers, employers, and employees”.

Summary of responsibilities

1. Ensure good building practices as well as remediation plans, post construction
2. Specify distribution of radon across the country with surveying of radon
3. Create guidance for radon mitigation and measurement
4. Consider financial support, particularly for individual homeowners
5. Increase public awareness of the risks, tools for measurement, and remedial measures of radon.

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless and odorless gas that comes from the ground. It stems from the decay of uranium which naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust. It is found everywhere: beneath our homes, schools, and workplaces. Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, this means that we are exposed to radon in the places we spend the most time.

How did this all come about?

In 2013, the European Commission appointed the Scientific and Technical Committee to research the dangers of ionizing radiation such as radon decay. The European Commission, with the information from the Committee, created a set of uniform standards to deal with the issue of ionizing radiation. This forms the base of the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive and will be applied to all European Union (EU) Member States. The changes will take place in early 2018 as all Member States will have to comply with the Basic Safety Standards Directive by the 6th of February 2018.

Conclusion: importance of radon measurement devices

As seen from the new Basic Safety Standards Directive, radon will continue to be an important topic in health and safety, building management and employer responsibility moving forward. In the coming year it will be extremely important to measure radon levels. We believe the first step to address the problem with radon exposure is to make the invisible gas, visible.

By using digital radon detection devices such as the Airthings Wave, you gain full visibility of your short- and long-term levels in an easy to understand app or dashboard. With the Wave, there is no need to send to a lab, and there are never any additional labs fees. Radon measurement instruments will continue to play an important part of helping the European Commission to accomplish its objectives of addressing the health risks of long-term radon exposure.

Airthings has also developed a complete system to manage radon levels for both individuals and facility managers alike. The Airthings Ecosystem which includes the Wave Plus and the Hub will cover all needs of the new directive. One can create a system of Wave Plus’ to cover a large area and view results on the Airthings dashboard or through our apps. Employers will be able to cover entire offices, rental agencies can cover entire apartment buildings and complexes, and public leaders can cover large public spaces. With the addition of the Hub, you gain remote access to all of your airthings devices.

Want to read even more about the radon directive?

Radon is directly addressed in the Basic Safety Standards Directive in Article 54 concerning workplace radon levels, in Article 74 concerning indoor radon levels, and in Article 103 for the national action plan. If you want more of a detailed explanation of the plan, check out the summary made by Airthings. And don’t forget to share information about the radon directive, with this handy infographic.

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Experts recommend testing for radon during the colder months because radon levels are historically found to be higher. There are many factors that affect radon levels including shifting climatic conditions, temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation and even construction or reconstruction. Nonetheless, as the days grow shorter and colder, there are a few reasons why there is usually more radon found. It is likely that the main cause for rising levels is that we are shutting our windows to block out the chill in the air.

However, there are also cracks in everyone’s home, no matter how much work you do to seal them. As warm air rises and escapes from the roof of your home, it also creates a suction to bring new air in to replace it. The cold air entering your home from below also brings in radon particles. This is completely normal, but it’s important to understand how much.

These reasons coupled with the fact that radon accumulates in enclosed areas and people are in their homes more often during winter, means the colder months are the best time to test.

All in all, there are a lot of variables to consider, and radon levels change substantially and often (which is, by the way, totally normal). Our daily habits to help us acclimatize (e.g. sealing your home in winter from the cold and in summer from the heat) are furthering these changes. The fluctuations are proof of why it is important to monitor radon daily and to have an ongoing log of your levels, rather than using a one-time test. Similar to how you wouldn’t test for carbon monoxide only one time, you should be testing for radon continuously. So, just because you get an okay from a one-time test, it doesn’t mean you are in the clear.

Radon variations from the Airthings Wave app, over one week

(note: measurements are in EU becquerels)

EPA involvement in radon awareness

This year the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pushing for more awareness surrounding radon—specifically in areas that are known for having high levels of radon. The state of Vermont, for example, received $105,000 as an EPA grant to help protect Vermont residents from radon. The state will match the federal reward with 40% state funding.

A non-profit in Lewiston, Maine also received a $25,000 grant from the EPA. The name of the program, “Expanding Innovative Healthy Homes Education for Immigrants and Refugees in Lewiston-Auburn,” explains best where the money from the grant will go.

Here at Airthings, we are excited to see that radon testing and awareness is being taken more seriously. As a reminder, the EPA recommends all buildings be tested for radon including homes, workplaces, and schools—pretty much anywhere where people spend a significant amount of time indoors.

Still confused about radon? Let us simplify it a bit. The thing about radon is that one day in a “danger” zone will not hurt you. But weeks? A year? That could be the difference between life and death—and getting lung cancer.  And remember, exposure to radon is preventable: install a continuous radon detector, monitor your levels and take the necessary steps to mitigate when needed.

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Yet in a puzzling story last week, Wired suggested that eliminating the EPA’s radon programs would somehow decrease the risk of lung cancer. It is difficult to connect the dots as to how the story arrived at this conclusion. The convoluted reasoning in the piece is as follows.

1. The globally accepted “action level” of radon — the point at which homeowners should take action to reduce the long-term effects of radon exposure — is too low.
2. Some studies have found that low levels of radiation may have beneficial health effects.
3. Therefore, the EPA radon program should be eliminated because its “overprotective” action levels are somehow causing lung cancer.

The Wired piece does not define the health risks

Before delving into the issues with this logic, it should be noted that the Wired piece does not even define the fundamental health risk associated with radon exposure. It is essential to any story involving radon, and Wired completely skips the basics.

The danger of radon exposure is not the level at any given time. It is long-term exposure to radon gas. In other words, the 4 pCi/l (picocuries per liter) “action level” measurement does not represent an immediate cancer risk, nor is it intended to.

Instead, a measurement of 4 pCi/l indoors means that radon levels are elevated beyond what is considered normal. If those readings are in your home and not dealt with properly, they can accumulate to truly dangerous levels.

Think of smoke in your home. If you see it billowing from your oven, it doesn’t mean the house is on fire, nor does it mean your health will be at risk if you inhale a bit of that smoke. Instead, it is a red flag and an indication that you should check and remediate the situation. Now, think of a smoke detector in your home. When it goes off, it also doesn’t mean your house is on fire or that you are about to die. It means that there is a serious situation you should be aware of. The Wired story seems to confuse “action levels” of radon gas with the immediate onset of lung cancer.

But here is why radon exposure is even more dangerous in your home than smoke, both in terms of the number of annual deaths and the personal experience. If your house is full of smoke, you can see it, smell it, and know when to leave or take action. Radon is invisible to all the senses. There is no instinctual warning sign for human beings.

That makes measurement guidelines, test kits, and informed mitigation the only lines of defense. The European Union seems to recognize this, as it has required mandatory radon monitoring for all public buildings beginning in February 2018. And the US Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all American homes be tested for radon levels during the sales process.

Long-term and short-term exposure are not comparable

The Wired story does make some fair points, although they are pieced together in a confusing and contradictory narrative. First, the author points out that there is no accepted safe level of radon. He contends that this is because the 4 pCi/l action level is based on a flawed linear no-threshold model. The EPA itself has acknowledged this fact.

The author initially suggests that the 4 pCi/l benchmark might be too high, that it was decided upon by the EPA purely to save money. Any radon level lower than that would be far more costly to detect and mitigate, he contends.

But then, the author says that these same action levels are too low, citing studies that claim low-dosage radiation may have beneficial health effects. The article does not explain this in depth, but pins its entire argument on it. This “low-dosage radiation” likely refers to controlled, short-term exposure to radiation in a lab or medical facility, such as radiation therapy or X-ray machines. Those aren’t the same things as unknown, uncontrollable, and fluctuating levels of radon gas accumulating in your home.

What is more, the author notes that the evidence for low-dosage radiation being beneficial to health is “pretty shaky.” But that doesn’t stop him from concluding the piece with a quote from Dr. Mohan Doss, who states that nixing the EPA radon program would somehow reduce incidences of lung cancer.

Again, it is hard to parse the convoluted journey to the story’s destination. It never shows a rudimentary understanding of what makes unchecked radon accumulation – not acute levels of radon presence – a serious health hazard that claims tens of thousands of lives each year.

Hypocritical at best and irresponsible at worst

The piece points to flaws in the way radon action levels are determined. Then the story claims those action levels are arbitrary and inflated, based primarily on the EPA being able to save money. Simultaneously, the story argues that these action levels are too low and “overprotective,” and that this is a reason for the EPA’s radon program to be shut down. Finally, it points to undefined and “pretty shaky” empirical data that claims low levels of radon prevent lung cancer. Seeing as there is no strong evidence to bolster that claim, the conclusion is hypocritical at best and irresponsible at worst.

Sadly, these aren’t the only problems with the overall argument. If the 4 pCi/l action level for radon is flawed, then it certainly should be revised. But if the EPA’s radon program is eliminated, who will support and enforce a reformed approach? And if current action levels are “overprotective,” then what is the “safe level” of radon exposure that Dr. Doss claims has therapeutic effects? Could it possibly fall in the range of 4 pCi/l or lower, making the entire argument moot? Like so many other bits of crucial information, the story leaves this out.

Rather than propose a “scorched Earth” campaign that would eliminate the EPA’s radon-awareness and monitoring programs, this Wired piece should seek out some solid ground for the story’s haphazard and contradictory assortment of claims to stand on.

The post What Wired Gets Dangerously Wrong About Radon appeared first on Airthings.

The purpose of this post is to simplify how this 2013 BSS Directive will affect Europeans safety. More specifically, it will give an overview of what this means for the general public with regards to the specific changes concerning radon.

(The Directive for radon is also summarized in an infographic that can be downloaded here.)

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas making it difficult to detect without a device. More specifically, it is radioactive as it stems from the decay of uranium which naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust. The problem is that traces of uranium exist in the soil beneath our homes, schools, and workplaces. This means that we are exposed to radon in the places we spend most of our time increasing health risks as a result of cumulative radon exposure.  Another important problem is that radon fluctuates daily making constant measurement necessary to determine accurate radon levels.

We know that when radon and its decay products enter our airways, the particles will then attach themselves to our cell lining. As radon and its radioactive products decay in our lungs, alpha particles are emitted thereby damaging our cells’ DNA. Hence, it is widely recognized that radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. For instance, according to the WHO, radon exposure contributes to as much as 14% of all lung cancer cases in some countries.

What does the Directive mean in practice?

The overall goal of the Directive, in terms of radon exposure, is to protect the public and ensure that indoor radon concentrations are below 300 Bq/m³. In short, there is going to be a need for continuous radon measurement in dwellings, public spaces, and workplaces to minimize long-term health risks and create a reference point for risk assessment. Hence, this Basic Safety Standards Directive will directly affect homeowners, the general public, all employees, and employers.

Homeowners

The action plan suggests monitoring radon concentration in dwellings. In short, there is a need to measure homes and residential areas for radon levels. However, it might also be relevant in cases of extreme radon levels as homeowners may receive financial aid for radon mitigation services (depending on the national action plan). Furthermore, this Directive could potentially mean that landlords need to properly assess the place for radon exposure to ensure the health and safety of the tenants. However, this is not explicitly stated and will be up to each individual Member State to determine.

General public

The Basic Safety Standards Directive also affects the general public as it calls for monitoring the radon concentration of buildings with public access. This means that buildings such as libraries, gyms, shopping malls, and hospitals should be measured for radon levels. Moreover, measuring radon makes the problem visible thereby creating opportunities for the public to demand that local decision makers prioritize the health and safety of everyone. Furthermore, we need to understand the cumulative effect of radon on the population which makes it important to measure public spaces.

Employers and employees

As radon levels in the workplace are directly addressed in Article 54 and further mentioned in Article 103, employers are particularly influenced by this Directive. Since the levels should be below the national standard in compliance with the law, employers must make sure that they establish good strategies for measurement and mitigation of radon levels. In short, this will affect organizations such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals, offices, and restaurants. Furthermore, employees must make sure that employers take these measures seriously and report any inconsistencies with the compliance of the law to ensure that the health and safety of workers are taken seriously.

More details on the Basic Safety Standards Directive concerning radon

Radon is directly addressed in the Basic Safety Standards Directive through Article 54 concerning workplace radon levels, Article 74 concerning indoor radon levels, and Article 103 for the national action plan.

Radon concerns: workplace, indoor levels, and action plan

For instance, under Article 54 it addresses radon levels in workplaces. This Article capped the indoor radon concentration level for workplaces at 300 Bq/m³. However, Member States are encouraged to set more stringent laws according to point 5 of the Directive. Furthermore, this Directive requires that radon measures are carried out especially in workplaces that are located on ground floor or basement levels as these are especially at risk. Lastly, the Article emphasizes the importance of notifying cases where the radon concentration at the workplace continues to exceed the set national reference level.

Article 74 addresses indoor exposure to radon. This requires the Member States to establish national reference levels for radon that does not exceed 300 Bq/m³. Furthermore, it requires all Member States to create solutions to identify homes with radon concentration above the national reference level. Lastly, it wants to ensure the availability of information on the health risks associated with radon exposure both on the local and national level.

Article 103 requires the establishment of a national action plan to address long-term risks of radon exposure in homes, public spaces, and workplaces. For instance, it begins by stating that all “Member States shall establish a national action plan addressing long-term risks from radon exposures in dwellings, buildings with public access and workplaces for any source of radon ingress (…)”. Secondly, Member States should ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent radon seeping into the building. Lastly, the Article wishes to identify areas where concentrations are expected to exceed national reference level.

The national action plan to address long-term health risks

Since the European Commission recognizes that there is an increased risk of lung cancer from long-term exposure to indoor radon levels over the order 100 Bq/m³, a national action plan is required. This action plan is necessary to address the long-term health risks from radon exposure as stated in point 23 of the Directive.

Firstly, this plan requires the Member States to ensure good building practices to prevent radon from entering into buildings. In other words, the members may need to implement national building codes with a specific set of expectations to ensure the well-being of the general public. This is to ensure that future building projects will provide good insulation against radon from seeping in. Moreover, it is advised to consider steps to deal with the remedial action of radon post construction.

Secondly, the plan requires the Member States to identify specific areas where radon concentration is expected to exceed appropriate national reference levels. Furthermore, the plan suggests surveying indoor radon concentration to estimate the distribution of radon levels. This means that radon measurement instruments are needed in order to be able to map and risk assessing these areas. In short, this means that there is a need to measure homes, public spaces and workplaces to create a reference level of radon exposure to assess the current risks and address them accordingly.

Thirdly, the action plan should also consider the dealing with radon mitigation once measurement and risk assessment has been completed. It suggests that the Member States should create guidance for methods for measurement and mitigation of radon.

Furthermore, they could also consider the provision of financial support for these activities which is particularly important for homes with high radon concentrations.

Lastly, the plan aims to increase public awareness of the risk of radon, methods and tools for measurements, and remedial measures. For instance, it is recommended that the Member States should create a strategy for communicating the risks of radon (including in relation to smoking) to “increase public awareness and inform local decision makers, employers, and employees”.

Conclusion: importance of radon measurement devices

As seen from the new Basic Safety Standards Directive, radon will continue to be an important topic in health and safety, building management and employer responsibility moving forward. Hence, it becomes extremely important to measure radon levels. This is because it is the first step to address the problem with radon exposure by making the invisible gas visible. In short, by using devices such as Airthings Wave, stakeholders are able to identify the problem areas that need radon mitigation and have clear, detailed short-term and long-term data that is easy to understand. Radon measurement instruments will continue to play an important part of helping the European Commission to accomplish its objectives of addressing the health risks of long-term radon exposure, which benefits both children and adults alike.

Summary: infographic of the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards Directive

You can download the infographic here.

Sources

Cancer.org (2015) “Radon and Cancer”. Accessed from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radon.html. Retrieved 29 June 2017.

European Union (2014). “COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/59/EURATOM”. Accessed from: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013L0059&from=en. Retrieved 20 June 2017

What is Radon? Accessed from: http://airthings.co.kr/what-is-radon/. Retrieved 29 June 2017.

WHO (n.d.) “Radon and Health”. Accessed from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/. Retrieved 29 June 2017.

WHO (n.d.) “RADON AND HEALTH. What is radon and where does it come from?”  Accessed from: http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/Radon_Info_sheet.pdf. Retrieved 29 June 2017

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Different radon detection methods

The type of radon detection system you should purchase depends on the purpose, the desired speed of results, and accuracy. To simplify, radon detection has historically been separated into short-term and long-term tests according to Oregon Public Health. However, with more advanced technology, digital solutions have made testing for radon more convenient and accurate.

Short-term radon detection

Short-term radon detection is suitable if you need a speedy answer that will take between 2 days and 3 months. For instance, you can use it after buying a house to check if you need radon mitigation work. These types use charcoal based methods to absorb the radon gas which is later resealed and returned to the vendor or lab for evaluation.

The main advantage of this is speed as it takes less than 90 days for the results which make it significantly faster than long-term methods. However, it still takes a long time to get the results back from the lab. These kits are also cheap and can cost anything from $10 to $30 per kit. The problem (as mentioned in an earlier post) is that they are unreliable due to the vulnerability for errors. For instance, different temperatures and humidity levels might cause sensitivity issues within the products. Furthermore, it does not give an average radon level which makes it less accurate due to the fluctuating levels of radon throughout the year(s) (illustrated in the image below).

Long-term radon detection

As mentioned by Oregon Public Health,  these radon detectors are usually based on Alpha-Track Detection (AT) method. They use containers that enclose small sheets of special plastic material to detect radiation. In short, the alpha particles emitted by the radon gas will leave tracks on these plastic sheets for later evaluation. This process may take anything from 3 months up to a year depending on the product.

Since these methods are used for the long-term, it provides more accurate readings than the short-term methods as it measures the average radon levels. However, the accuracy varies from product to product. The problem with these products is also the length of time it takes to get the results. Furthermore, similar to short-term methods, it is also inconvenient as you need to return items for processing and evaluation.

Digital solutions: the future of radon detection

Although the “old school” methods of radon detection have worked in the past, the hassle of returning items to the vendor takes both time and effort. In other words, it becomes less convenient to measure radon. By digitalizing radon detection, Airthings have created a solution that combines the advantages of these methods while making it more convenient for the end user.

The advantage here is that you can use these products for both short-term and long-term measurement purposes. If you are looking for short-term solutions, you can get an answer with Airthings Wave within 2 hours or within 24 hours for Home. Moreover, for long-term purposes, it can measure radon levels continuously thereby giving you up-to-date results so that fluctuating radon levels do not become a problem. There is also a wide range of products giving you the flexibility of choice. For instance, if you would like to measure radon levels in each room you can use products such as Home. Although these types of products tend to be somewhat pricey, they are designed to last up to 10 years. In other words, there is a trade-off between the price (equivalent to around 8 long-term test kits) and all the benefits listed in the diagram below.

In a nutshell: Pros & cons of radon detection systems 

What should I do if radon levels are too high?

Once you have found the right type of radon detection system for your purpose, the next logical question is: what is an acceptable range and what should you do if they are too high? More information about radon levels and how to respond can be found here.

Sources

Alvarez,  J. L. (1990). “Analytic Procedures and Comparisons”. Radon.com. Accessed from: http://www.radon.com/radon_analysis/. Retrieved 14 June 2017

EPA (n.d.). “Health Risk of Radon”. EPA.gov. Accessed from: https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon. Retrieved 14 June 2017.

Kristiansen, C. (2017). “Charcoal Versus Airthings – Accuracy”. Airthings.com. Accessed from: http://airthings.co.kr/charcoal-versus-airthings-accuracy/. Retrieved 14 June 2017.

Kristiansen, C. (2017). “How to respond to your radon levels”. Airthings.com. Accessed from: http://airthings.co.kr/how-to-respond-to-your-radon-levels/. Retrieved 14 June 2017.

Oregon Public Health (n.d.) “Type of Radon Gas testing”. Oregon.gov. Accessed from: https://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/HealthyNeighborhoods/RadonGas/Pages/typesofradontesting.aspx. Retrieved 14 June 2017.

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Why Some Might Think That There Are Symptoms

It might come as a surprise that there are no symptoms of radon exposure, seeing there are usually symptoms when we expose our body to something potentially harmful. Excessive exposure to sunlight, for instance, is a source of painful sunburns, as well as resulting in an increased likelihood of skin cancer². A sunburn is a symptom of skin damage caused by exposure to sunlight. It thus functions as an early warning of the potential long-term dangers of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

In the case of smoking, a symptom could be the coughing associated with the bad habit. Tobacco smoking and exposure to radon are the first and second most common causes of lung cancer, respectively, according to the American Lung Association³. One difference between the two is that the former has symptoms indicating that you are breathing in something harmful, while there are no symptoms of radon exposure. Both cause damage to DNA molecules. This might lead to cancer due to increased likelihood of cell mutations.

We see that many of the things that are harmful in the long run have some immediate symptoms as well. It is therefore not unreasonable to assume that the same goes for radon. Next, we will have a look at why there are no symptoms of radon exposure.

Why There Are No Symptoms of Radon Exposure

Radon, which is a radioactive gas⁴, damages DNA molecules and cells through the emittance of alpha particles. The alpha particles get emitted when the radioactive gas decays, and can potentially damage cells and DNA molecules inside the lungs⁵. This damage will in some cases lead to cell mutations and cancer.

One of the reasons why radon is more harmful than some other radioactive substances is because it decays rather fast⁶. Because it decays quickly, more alpha particles get emitted during the period in which the gas is inside your lungs. The probability that the radioactive gas causes damage increases when more particles have the potential to do so. Another factor that increases this chance is the level of radon concentration in the air.

If radon exposure were to have symptoms, we would have needed conscious awareness of the radiation damage. Since the radiation damages cells within the lungs, which we have little to none sensitivity of, we cannot be aware of it. There are therefore no symptoms of radon exposure. You would not become aware of the damage until after it has caused cancerous mutations.

The greater the level of radon in the air, the greater the number of particles emitted from the radon while inside your lungs. This is comparable to how more smoking or sunbathing increases your chances of getting lung or skin cancer. Radon is different from the other two because of its lack of symptoms. We can think of the symptoms of exposure as gauges, which give us an indication of how bad the exposure is.

How to Compensate for the Lack of Symptoms

We have no built-in gauge that let us measure our level of exposure to radon. To compensate, we have man-made tools that can do this task for us. Being aware of the radon level in our environment is important if we wish to mitigate the danger. By reducing the levels, we are reducing the likelihood of getting lung cancer due to radon exposure.

Airthings provide several continuous radon monitors that help you keep track of the radon levels in your household. A radon monitor helps you decide whether you need to take action to reduce your radon levels. Because a continuous radon monitor gives you a reading within just a few hours, it is a convenient measure of the actual radon levels in your home.

Sources

1. Why Non-smokers Sometimes Get Lung Cancer (2016, November 1). The American Cancer Society. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/why-lung-cancer-strikes-nonsmokers.html
2. How the sun and UV cause cancer (2017, April 28). Cancer Research UK. Retrieved from: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/how-the-sun-and-uv-cause-cancer
3. What Causes Lung Cancer (2016, November 3). The American Lung Association. Retrieved from: http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/what-is-lung-cancer/what-causes-lung-cancer.html
4. Radon and Cancer (2015, September 23). The American Cancer Society. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radon.html
5. Radon and Cancer (2011, December 6). The National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/radon/radon-fact-sheet
6. What is radon? And why are they saying all those bad things about it? (n.d.). HyperPhysics. Retrieved from: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Nuclear/radon.html

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Now that you know how many Bq/m³ or pCi/L are inside your home, you also need to know what these numbers mean! Should you be worried? Is it necessary to install a radon pump? Should you just open the window more often?

Some of Airthings’ devices are able to show results just one hour after setting them up. However, it is recommended to measure for at least one full month to get a more comprehensive set of readings. Due to the fluctuating nature of radon, the longer you measure, the more accurate the readings will be.

But first, a bit about radon

Radon exists everywhere, even in the open sea, but radiation only becomes a problem when it starts concentrating. It is easier for radon to accumulate in well-insulated office buildings or homes than in areas that are open or constantly ventilated.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) on its 2009 Handbook on Indoor Radon, there are over 40 case-control studies that have contributed to understanding the link between radon exposure indoors and lung cancer. These studies have also helped to establish what normal levels of radiation are or, more accurately, those considered acceptable.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Each country or region is in charge of developing a national plan for mitigation and control of radon gas; these plans are “aimed at minimizing exposure of the population to radon”. The European Union has established some guidelines that take into account the soil conditions.

So, how much is too much?

There are factors that affect indoor radon levels, like weather conditions in your area or the time of the year. In zones far from the equator, there are normally higher levels during the winter than the summer because in the cold weather most people ventilate less.

The normal radon concentration outdoors is about 10 Bq/m³. The worldwide average indoors is 39 Bq/m³. There might be a room in your home or office with concentrations that are slightly above the average. It is normal to have different levels in different areas and rooms, especially if the ventilation is not the same.

While it is recommended to implement mitigation measures in rooms where levels are much higher than the reference levels, values slightly above average are not as harmful if you spend a little time in there. In other words, if you have a room with an average radon concentration of 350 Bq/m³ but only use the room for storage or pop in once in a while, you will be safe. However, you should always make sure the radon is not seeping into other areas of the building. You can find more information here from a case study about radon toxicity.

What do to next

Radon particles have a half-life of 3.8 days. This means it’s possible to reduce concentration just with proper ventilation. As ventilation increases, radon concentration will decrease.

In areas where there’s constant ventilation, radon levels will tend to align with normal concentrations outdoors. Try to ventilate and measure for at least a week in a particular room to see if levels get closer to normal outdoor values (~10 Bq/m³).

It is important to do a long-term measure in places where you normally spend a lot of hours like bedrooms or your office. Overall, if concentrations are:

1. 0 – 49 Bq/m³  (0 – 1.3 pCi/L):  No action necessary.
2. 49 – 99 Bq/m³ (1.4 – 2.6 pCi/L): Experiment with ventilation and sealing cracks to reduce levels.
3. 100 Bq/m³ – 299 Bq/m³ (2.7 – 8 pCi/L): Keep measuring. If levels are maintained for more than 3 months, contact a professional radon mitigator.
4. 300 Bq/m³ (8.1 pCi/L) and up: Keep measuring. If levels are maintained for more than 1 month, contact a professional radon mitigator.

The Radon and Health Fact sheet from the WHO states that:

National agencies normally recommend the most cost-efficient methods to reduce radon, should levels not be reduced by simple ventilation. If the problem is severe, many countries offer financial support or tax credits to help homeowners with the installation of active mitigation methods.

There is usually a list of certified radon professionals in each country that can help you reduce the concentration of radon. Many national agencies provide this directorate or point you in the right direction to find the person or business who can help you. Search for “radon” on your government website, otherwise turn to the local Health and Safety authorities for more information and help.

Acceptable levels according to your location

The values presented in this document are taken from governmental agencies and official national organizations that regulate radon and air quality. Most of the measures were taken in periods of one year or more.

While most of the countries stick to values suggested by international organizations, like the WHO, each country makes exceptions based on local soil conditions and other industry regulations.

Most countries set different action levels for homes and offices, the latter being higher than residential ones. The links provided here contain information about action levels for homes; some of them also include workplace information.

Americas

Although the effects of radon were first documented as early as 1530 in Europe, the famous “Watras incident” in the U.S in 1984 put radiation regulations on the map. Since then many studies have been carried out to find a correlation between lung cancer and radon exposure.

That’s why recommended values in North America are lower than those recommended by the WHO, and workplace regulations –especially regarding power plant and mine workers– are stricter and more comprehensive than in Europe.

Canada

Recommended levels in Canada are set at 200 Bq/m³. Any buildings with higher levels require mitigating actions and, for spaces with levels higher than 600 Bq/m³, these actions must be taken within a year.

If the levels are between 200 Bq/m³ and 600 Bq/m³, mitigation has to happen in less than two years. The Canadian government states that these levels are “based upon current scientific understanding”.

You can visit the radon section of Health Canada’s website to learn more about specific radon regulations and get access to resources that the government of Canada has created for the general public.

USA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the one in charge, among other things, of creating radon laws and regulations. The agency has done a good job at spreading awareness about radon and providing information to the general public.

According to the EPA’s “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon”, almost one in 15 homes in the U.S.A. has radon concentrations above the recommended levels. This guide includes a lot of useful information about radon; you can read it here.

They have created a very useful chart that compares the risks of smokers vs. non-smokers with the likelihood of getting lung cancer. You can see it here. Acceptable levels in this country are between 2 and 4 pCi/L.

Europe

The European Environment and Health Information System (ENHIS) has surveyed 13 countries in Europe and recommends action levels between 200 Bq/m³ and 400 Bq/m³. There are specific guidelines for each country since the type of soil varies both per country and within each region.

ENHIS states in its 2009 report, which you can read here, that “there are clearly huge differences between countries in terms of exposure to radon in dwellings in Europe”. That is why it is important to pay attention to local concentration levels and that way you can also learn if you live in an area that is considered a “risk zone”.

Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK will have lower levels, in average, than Austria, Finland, Sweden or Czechia. However, the downside of using geographical expectations is that if your home is built over sedimentary soils, radon can over-concentrate if ventilation is poor. If you live in a high-risk zone you can have low levels in your home, if you live in a low-risk zone you can have high levels in your home. This is why every single home needs to be tested.

Norway

According to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, “Norway is among the countries in the world where indoor radon reaches its highest concentrations”. About 10% of all buildings in Norway have a concentration higher than the recommended 100 Bq/m³.

Current legislations set the limit at 200 Bq/m³ for schools, new buildings, and rented accommodation. The action level for reduction is set at 100 Bq/m³, in accordance with WHO’s recommendations.

The government has discussed targets to reduce and control radon in Norway; existing buildings in the country “with indoor radon concentrations exceeding 200 Bq/m³ must be considerably reduced by 2020”. For more specific measures and procedures, you can check the official guide here.

France

Because of the type of soil, most homes in France have an average indoor concentration of 90 Bq/m³. Even so, there are about 300,000 buildings with concentrations over 400 Bq/m³ and about 60,000 with levels higher than 1000 Bq/m³.

Regions that are rich in granite, like Bretagne and Massif-Central, have the highest concentrations in the country. You can consult France’s radon map here. New buildings are expected to have levels of 200 Bq/m³ and below. However, because of the type of soil, the government only recommends taking corrective actions for levels higher than 400 Bq/m³.

Germany

According to radon mapping in Germany, between 10% and 50% of buildings in the country have radon levels over 100 Bq/m³, for which actions are required. If levels are above 1000 Bq/m³, mitigation has to be implemented within a period of three years.

All new buildings are expected to have concentrations below 100 Bq/m³. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends ventilating frequently and intensively and sealing cellar doors and cracks or gaps in areas that are in direct contact with the soil.

Italy

The agency for Environmental Quality in Italian Urban Areas states that more than 10% of all cases of lung cancer in Italy are related to radon. The country follows its own guidelines, as well as those of the European Union, and there are public and private companies that help people measure their indoor air quality.

The radon regulations of the government of Italy include only schools and offices, where radon levels need to be reduced if they are above 500 Bq/m³. Households are excluded therefore homeowners are solely responsible for measuring indoor radon levels.

Spain

According to the Council for Nuclear Safety of Spain, laws regarding exposure to radon were re-established in 2006. The government of Spain recommends following EU guidelines and introducing corrective measures for concentrations above 400 Bq/m³ in existing buildings.

Laws previous to 1993 required actions at 600 Bq/m³. After Spain became part of the EU action levels were changed to follow WHO’s recommended levels and EU guidelines. The official report is available here, in Spanish.

The project to create a comprehensive radon map of Spain was finished in 2013, and it is available here. The goal of this project was identifying zones and regions that were most likely to have high concentrations of radon to reduce exposure as much as possible.

United Kingdom

The Department of Public Health England has created a very useful interactive radon map where you can see specific concentrations in each area of the UK. Take a look at the map here.

As of 2010, the UK’s Health Protection Agency set 100 Bq/m³ as a target level “because research published since 1990 has given scientists a greater understanding of the risks to our health of exposure to radon below 200 Bq/m³”.

Actions are recommended for levels above of 200 Bq/m³. You can find a pricing list to know the costs of active mitigation methods, should your levels be too high. You can consult them here.

Hopefully, your radon levels will be within the recommended values. Don’t forget to keep ventilating and, once again, thank you for purchasing an Airthings detector.

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You might be aware of radon exposure if you work in the mining industry, live in an area with high concentrations of this gas or are about to sell your home and the government requires you to get a certified inspection. You may also remember radon from a time you saw it all the way to the right of the periodic table, on the noble gases section. Or maybe the name has come up in conversations, as more research is done and the name of this gas is more present in the media.Either way, if none of these situations are familiar to you, it’s still important to have a better understanding of what radon is, what it does, and know if you might be at risk of overexposure. This short article discusses three things you need to know about radon exposure.

Courtesy of : Newspapers.com

Radon is a radioactive gas with no taste, smell or color. This means the human senses alone cannot detect it. That is why, although radon was discovered in 1899 and even back in 1530 Paracelsus noticed some health effects in miners, regulation and radon’s connection to lung cancer are fairly new. The knowledge about radon’s effect on health was so limited that there was a time in the 1970s where one could go to a uranium mine in the U.S. to receive radon radiation. It was advertising as a helpful relief to arthritis, sinus, and asthma. Luckily this information was proven false and the government banned this kind of advertisement in 1975. You can see an example of a newspaper ad on the left.

People understand working in enclosed areas where poisonous gases can gather is dangerous, but not all gases damage the lungs in the same way. Avoiding overexposure to radiation, and radioactive gases, can’t be solved with a miner’s canary. Your nose helps you to understand your surroundings. It helps you find the cause of normal situations, like knowing if a baby needs a diaper change or if something in your fridge has gone bad and you shouldn’t eat it. The harm in radon exposure, however, goes beyond air quality, what we can smell, and what our senses generally tell us about the safety of an environment. You can assume that very polluted cities or smoking lounges could be dangerous to your lungs, because you know you’re breathing contaminated air. You can see a cloud of smoke or haze from very far. You can also recognize the smell from quite a distance. In the case of radon, however, you don’t need to be underground, at a factory or in a smoking area to be at risk, and your senses will never be able to detect it. You could be sitting in your living room or at your office, and even have an air purifier and not notice that something’s wrong. Sadly, air purifiers “are incapable of stopping the tiniest particles to which radon progeny adhere”.

In fact, people found out by chance that radon concentrates in homes and other enclosed areas. This happened in 1984 when a nuclear plant worker in the U.S. kept firing up the radioactivity alarms and they couldn’t figure out why. Here you can see what happened:

Thanks to that incident and the further work of scientists we now know radon exposure is harmful. But how or why?

How does radon exposure happen?

Radon is naturally present in nature. It comes from the core of the Earth, and it’s produced when another element, radium, decays. Because the planet has natural deposits of thorium and other more popularly known radioactive elements, like uranium, radon has been here for many centuries and it’s likely it’ll still be here for many more. What separates radon from other radioactive materials and makes it harmful, however, is that you might be inhaling too much of it, right now, without knowing about it.

According to the Toxicological Profile for Radon made by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from the U.S. Public Health Service, there are about 150 atoms of radon in each milliliter of air. Even though radon gas is very dense (about 8 times the density of our atmosphere), it doesn’t smell like anything, and it’s also not visible to the human eye. So, in a way, radon is everywhere on Earth, especially around areas with shale or granite. However, this doesn’t mean that we’re all at risk of getting lung cancer or other health complications derived from radon exposure.

It’s all about the quantity

Let’s discuss two examples to understand the harms of radon exposure: 

First example – We have night, day, and seasons because of the sun. Everyday the sun sends ultraviolet radiation although we cannot smell it, see it or hear it. We can feel it, however, as warmth. We even purposefully radiate ourselves to get a tan at the beach or a tanning salon, but we know we have to protect our skin to prevent sunburn or other complications. Without proper protection, too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun can produce skin cancer. The same happens with radon. Overexposure to radon gas can lead to lung cancer. Unfortunately, unlike skin cancer, there is no lotion or cream that prevents our noses from inhaling too much of this gas. Just like lying on the beach for 10 minutes will not give you skin cancer, inhaling radon at normal concentrations, like those that are normally present outdoors or in a well ventilated area, will not affect your lungs in a harmful way.

Second example – X-rays are another type of radiation which you might be familiar with. These powerful rays are “able to pass through solid matter, fog and photographic film”. Physicians normally used them to see broken bones or other irregularities not visible to the naked eye, like tumors or tuberculosis-infected lungs. We also know that overexposure to x-rays causes cancer thanks to scientist like Marie Curie, whose research helped us to have a better understanding of radiation and the protection we need against it. Once again, health complications depend on the amount of radiation you get. For example, when you go the doctor and get one x-ray to check your teeth or a broken bone, it’s very unlikely that radiation will significantly impact your health, as the amount of radiation is very little and the time of exposure is very short. Either way, you’ll still get a leaded apron to protect you while the radiologist takes the x-ray. But, unfortunately, just like it happens with ultraviolet radiation, there is no apron or mask that will protect you against inhaling radon.

So how much is too much?

The normal radon concentration outdoors is of about 10 Bq/m3. A well-ventilated room can reach those values. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends radon levels at home below 148 Bq/m3. According to the WHO, “lung cancer risk rises 16 % per 100 Bq/m3 increase in radon exposure”. There are various factors involved in developing lung cancer because of radon overexposure, like how old you are, the length of the exposure, if you are a smoker or even the time of the year. For example, in places where winter is harsh and it’s unpleasant to regularly ventilate an area, radon can gather. There is more information about radon toxicity in a case study, which you can read here. When talking about lung cancer by itself, smokers are at a much higher risk that non-smokers. According to an article published by the American Public Health Association, “[m]ore than 85 % of radon-induced lung cancer deaths are among smokers”. While quitting smoking will greatly reduce your chances of getting lung cancer, unfortunately, you are still at risk if you are overexposed to radon. As stated by the U.S. National Cancer institute, “it is estimated that more than 10 percent of radon-related cancer deaths occur among nonsmokers”. Keep in mind that we’re constantly receiving radiation in one form or another, but the amount and length of exposure is what matters. You may have been before in an area where radon concentration was very high, but it won’t affect you in the same way as having it in your bedroom or working space, where you normally spend around 8 hours.

So, what can you do now?

Yes, we know too much radon is bad. But how can we measure it? The simplest way to know how much radon there is around you is to test. There are digital radon detectors, radon test kits or even a professional who comes to your home to take measurements, a radon inspector. Each method has its own characteristics and devices are used differently. Home kits, for example, need to be sent to a lab after they have collected the information and need to remain static most of the time, for long periods of time. The accuracy of the readings can be affected by humidity and other types of radiation that are naturally present at home. These kits are cheap but may or may not be available in your area, as their certifications are country-based. Most of them are recommended only for tests within the United States.

In some countries it’s necessary to do a radon test before selling a property or building a new space. In this case, the help of a certified radon professional is required, as they need to issue a certified report. Just as the home kits, the availability of a radon inspector depends on where you live. Not all countries have radon inspectors or specific national regulations, regardless of the radon concentration of your country or the area where you live.

 Another solution is a digital radon detector, which gives you short and long term values that you can see at all times on the device’s screen or your phone, through its free mobile app. It’s also portable, which means you can use the same device to measure your office, your home or other indoor areas where you spend most of your time. You can compare the values shown on the digital radon detector with those approved by international organizations like the WHO, which makes these types of devices easier to use, as you (the user) don’t have to depend on a lab or a professional to tell you the radon levels around you. The device also measures the humidity and temperature around the space. Unlike test kits, these detectors don’t get affected by humidity or other radiation. Also, it can monitor the area for about one year and a half, with the same set of batteries. You can buy this device online and get it shipped to your country, which gives you greater flexibility if you’re in a place where the previous services are not available where you are. No matter which method you prefer to use, it’s important that you measure the radon levels around you to know if a mitigation system is necessary.

The WHO’s Radon & Health Fact Sheet tells us there are a couple of ways to reduce radon levels at home, such as:

“Increasing under-floor ventilation; installing a radon sump system in the basement or under a solid floor; avoiding the passage of radon from the basement into living rooms; sealing floors and walls; and improving the ventilation of the house”. Mitigations systems, like radon sump systems, could be expensive and require professional installation. Also, they’re not necessary in all cases, especially if radon levels are below 148 Bq/m3. Ventilating the area where you spend a lot of time is always a good solution, but it may not be completely effective if there’s something else directly affecting the level of radiation, like a crack on the ground. Once you know how much radon there is around you, it’ll be easier for you to see if nothing needs to change or if a mitigation method is required. Whatever the result, measuring the radon levels around you is the first and most important step to protect your lungs against radon exposure.

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