This summer Airthings hired seven interns to work in our various departments. They come from a variety of educational backgrounds to work in our headquarters here in Oslo, Norway. We see summer internships as a way to connect with the community, teaching new, useful and relevant skills to soon-to-be graduates and learning from them along the way. Airthings strongly believes that internships can be a great benefit to both them and us. We gain fresh perspective, creative thinking and the opportunity to work with future job seekers. We aim to create a fun, challenging and most importantly useful learning opportunity for their later careers.

As an introduction to the company, we welcomed them to our annual “Strategy Summit” where we hiked a mountain, talked business strategy and had team building exercises. Basically a crash-course in our company and culture. See our instagram page for photos of our Besseggen hike!  

Lets meet the team…

App Team

Eirik Vale Aase

Summer Intern, Research and Development, App team

• What are you studying? Masters in computer science.
• What are you working on? The Airthings iOS and Android applications.
• Fun fact: I spent three weeks on an inter-rail trip around Europe. I visited Denmark, Netherlands, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Belgium and Denmark. I loved every second of it!

Firmware team

Emil Braserud

Summer Intern, Research and Development, Firmware

• What are you studying? Masters in Electronic Systems Design, with a specialization in Embedded Systems
• What are you working on? Writing a framework for automated testing of embedded devices, helping with automating parts of the firmware delivery process, and writing firmware for the new Airthings devices.
• Fun fact: I have broken my right little toe twice, be careful while running!

Cloud team

Emil Haugen 

Summer Intern, Research and Development, Cloud

• What are you studying? Bachelor’s in mathematics.
• What are you working on? Analyzing vital data using statistics and computer science methods for prediction purposes.
• Fun fact: My team and I won the Dana Cup in 2010. It is one of the world’s largest football tournaments, and takes place in Hjørring, Denmark annually.

Martin McGloin

Summer Intern, Research and Development, Cloud

• What are you studying? Masters in cybernetics and robotics at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway.
• What are you working on? Evaluating new sensors and developing an analytics platform for our data.
• Fun fact: I helped save Christmas. A few years ago I was an intern at the Irish Embassy in Oslo, where there was a butter shortage around Christmas time. I contacted all the dairies in Ireland, to identify potential surpluses, and within a week 5 tons was on its way to Norway.

Morten Lundenes

Summer Intern, Research and Development, Cloud

• What are you studying? Masters in computer science, at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway.
• What are you working on? Predicting Radon based on weather data using machine learning, as well as data analysis, and an exciting new project that isn’t public yet.
• Fun fact:  I can’t say I’m reading, but on the other hand, I am listening to an audiobook called “Why We Sleep” that is very interesting.

Marketing team

Ida Cathrine R. Lindtvedt

Summer Intern, Marketing

• What are you studying? Masters in industrial economics and technology management.
• What are you working on? I am helping with both communication and digital marketing, including analyzing and presenting on current marketing efforts, creating content, making infographics, social media posts and email newsletters. I’m learning a lot!
• One fun fact: A hidden talent of mine is the ability to memorize songs without trying. I know more songs than I want to admit.

Marie Bannister 

Summer Intern, Marketing

• What are you studying? Masters in english literature.
• What are you working on? This very blog post! I am helping with various digital marketing and market communication activities too. More specifically content creation, an in-house style guide, email newsletters, infographics, blog posts and such.
• One fun fact: I spent a summer working as a water-skiing instructor in Camp America, I had to learn on the job, it was tough!

We are often looking for talented individuals to join our team. Visit our careers page to view our open positions.

Live better. Breathe Better.

Airthings.

The post Meet our summer interns appeared first on Airthings.

That puts all 64 of Colorado’s counties squarely in the most dangerous category for radon exposure.

During the cold weather months, the potential for high radon gas levels reaches even further into the danger zone, as windows and doors are closed up tightly to keep out winter’s chill.

Additionally, Colorado’s deep wells have been found to contain high levels of dissolved radon, contributing slightly to an elevated air level, but also increasing the possibility of stomach cancer from ingestion of contaminated water. Maximum contaminant levels have yet to be established for public water supplies, but the EPA has proposed numbers between 300 and 4,000 picocuries per liter as a maximum. Colorado well water regularly exceeds those levels Note that the levels in water must be much higher, rated at 1:10,000, to raise the air level reading.

Radon gas is an odorless, colorless gas found all around the world, but in particularly high levels in the Rocky Mountain state of Colorado. A product of the decay of radioactive uranium deposits in rock, soil, and water, the gas is known to cause lung cancer in those who have been exposed to contaminated air over long periods of time.

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment noted that an estimated 50 percent of all Colorado homes have high radon levels.

For Coloradans, the effects of radon gas are responsible for between 400 to 1400 deaths each year. To assist in mitigation, the department suggests testing and regular monitoring to keep abreast of shifting soil, weather, and environmental changes. Testing is best accomplished in the fall and winter, as windows must be kept closed, and fans and air conditioning equipment turned off, with minimal use of doors.

If indicated after testing, mitigation efforts can be successful, reducing the level by 99 percent. For more information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/categories/services-and-information/environment/radon.

The post Radon Gas: Colorado Map Covered in High Risk appeared first on Airthings.

ISIAQ’s Norwegian branch – Norsk Innemiljøorganisasjon (NIO, http://www.isiaq.no) – is heavily focused on precautionary action. At a time when authorities are allocating major resources to repair and treatment, the NIO stresses the importance of safeguarding indoor air quality through precautionary action, both in the workplace and at home.

In line with Airthings’ vision, this focus increases the general awareness of the threat posed by radon gas, empowering people and workplaces to easily measure and monitor radon in the indoor environment. Because radon gas is both colorless and odorless, the danger of its presence in buildings often goes unnoticed until health is compromised.

Radon ranks high as a significant cause of lung cancer. New digital technology for radon monitoring in buildings now makes early warning simple and affordable, providing important information that saves lives.

Airthings is looking forward to working closely with NIO and ISIAQ, helping consumers to detect and monitor radon gas in their indoor environments.

The post International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate appeared first on Airthings.

With more than 20,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths each year, both in the US and in the European Union, small investments in digital radon monitoring technology  are poised to increase in radon awareness, reducing social and economic burdens for families and society as a whole.

Knowledge about home fires and suggestions for preventive actions are high priorities in most countries, accounting for widespread awareness in the general population. Awareness about the risk posed by natural radioactive radon gas, found in most occupied buildings, is rarely published. Historically, survey methods have placed detection and maintenance of radon squarely in the hands of experts, consultants and specialized laboratories,  continuing to minimize detection of this dangerous  gas by the average homeowner, renter, or employer.

Digital Monitoring and Reporting

Today, radon gas can be monitored easily and accurately by everyone. Inexpensive digital radon monitoring devices provide early warning, create awareness, and generate a high health return on investment through the use of this precise technology. Digital radon monitoring devices allow everyone  to check radon levels at any time, reassuring they remain below critical standards.

Many national radiation authorities recommend  measuring radon only during the cold season, when  levels are often  highest. With digital technology, s measurements can be taken continuously at any time of year, warning occupants of elevated radon levels regardless of the season..

Digital radon technology makes light work of analyzing and reporting digital data. Radon values are presented on an easy-to-read screen built into the instrument. Free online reporting can easily be generated on the Airthings website (example: http:http://airthings.co.kr/report/).

In a matter of days, a digital radon device can provide measurements of  radon levels in every room of a building. Long-term measurement in rooms with the highest levels can then be continuously monitored over a period of several weeks,  producing more accurate results.

A digital radon meter can be reset to measure many different rooms and buildings. Battery power makes it easy to measure everywhere in a building, even when electrical outlets are not accessible.

Monitoring Radon Mitigation

Digital measurement technology is also very useful when taking action to reduce radon levels in a structure. One can quickly and easily measure the effects of mitigation, starting with the cheapest and simplest techniques, progressing to the more detailed fixes as necessary.

There are several methods of radon mitigation, depending on the severity of the problem. The most common are:

• Room ventilation: Often an efficient  fix for moderately high radon levels, simply opening the windows more frequently, installing vents for passive ventilation, or installing more comprehensive systems for balanced ventilation often achieve acceptable levels.
• Underground pipes: Also called « sub-slab depressurization » this method uses an exhaust fan to remove radon gas accumulating below the flooring and foundation, dissipating levels before the gas seeps into  the building. Similar systems are available for structures with crawl spaces.
• Radon Membranes: Most effective when installed as part of new construction, membranes must   be  completely sealed, leaving no holes or rifts in order to function properly. Membranes are less effective when installed in existing structures, since the fabric cannot be placed underneath wall construction.

The Digital Future of Radon Monitoring

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the danger posed by living and working in buildings with elevated radon levels, and points to radon gas exposure as ‘one of the main risks of ionizing radiation causing tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year globally’.

Digital radon monitoring technology has proven its worth.. Placing the power to monitor the radon levels in indoor environments in the hands of the people and families themselves increases awareness and makes the mitigation process less expensive, more targeted, and more effective. Most importantly, it reduces the number of cancer cases.

The post Digital Radon Gas Monitoring: High Return on Investment in Public Health appeared first on Airthings.

Health Canada advises that any indoor air environment measuring over 200 Becquerels per cubic metre, Bq/c3, poses an unacceptable risk to those who breathe the contaminated air. The average number of homes across Canada testing above the 200 Bq/m3 level is just 6.9 percent, with Ontario homes averaging 4.6 percent.

Thunder Bay’s McIntyre ward presented numbers of particular concern, finding that 43 percent of homes there contained elevated levels of the dangerous gas. Neebing ward reported 30 percent in the elevated range, Red River ward reported 15 percent, Current River ward reported 13 percent, Northwood ward reported five percent, and McKellar ward reported two percent. Westfort ward reported finding no homes with elevated radon gas levels.

Lee Sieswerda, manager of environmental health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, expressed surprise at the broad range of percentages, adding that additional study is needed to understand why there is such variation in measurement levels.

Radon is a natural product resulting from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water. As radon gas filters up through the soil, escaping to the surface of the earth, it seeps into homes and buildings through foundations, cracks, and openings. If allowed to accumulate in a closed environment, the gas levels become dangerous, posing a health risk to all who breathe the indoor air.

Sieswarda noted that homes built before 1945, before the Second World War, have low levels of radon. He cautioned some homeowners, however, explaining that, « It escalates to much higher levels in homes built between the 1990s and early 2000s. »  Very new homes, Sieswarda advised, have relatively low levels of radon due to built-in systems.

Chief building official with the City of Thunder Bay Desmond Stolz attributes the improvement of new homes to recently implemented Ontario building codes for new structures. Stolz explains, « Right now we are requiring all new houses to have an enhanced radon barrier below the floor slab, which would include a polyurethane sheet which is sealed. We are requiring all penetrations to be sealed that come through the floor and we are also asking for an exhaust pipe to be built below the floor that will all for depressurization of the area if necessary. »

Testing is important, with follow up mitigation costs usually ranging from $500 to $3,000. Fixes can be quite simple and inexpensive, patching holes or cracks. Some homes require the gas to be released from underneath the home and redirected outdoors with a fan. These units are an easy install, requiring less than two days for completion.

To read the original article, go to http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/higher-radon-levels-surprising/article_45d848ce-83dd-11e5-943a-1f6468700dda.html.

The post Officials Surprised by High Radon Levels appeared first on Airthings.

Radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. A naturally occurring by product of uranium breakdown, it seeps up through soil, rock, and water, escaping to the earth’s surface. That’s not an issue if it moves about freely into the environment, dissipating into the great outdoors.

It becomes a problem when the gas escapes beneath buildings into enclosed structures through holes and cracks, accumulating to dangerous levels in indoor environments. The odorless, colorless, radioactive gas enters the lungs with each breath, causing silent damage to important respiratory organs.

The more contaminated the air, the quicker the damage. The longer the exposure, the higher the risk. The most important lesson? It is preventable with a simple radon test to determine if action is necessary to reduce the levels of gas in the home.

The EPA, in designating January as National Radon Action Month, would like to educate homeowners about the risk, and inform everyone about simple ways to fix the problem. They urge learning about radon by taking the following steps:

• Test your home. It is easy and inexpensive, and can prevent the heartache of a loved one developing lung cancer. Go to http://www.epa.gov/radon/find-radon-test-kit-or-measurement-and-mitigation-professional to learn how.
• Attend a National Radon Action Month event in your area. Can’t find one? Create one! Go to http://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-month-event-planning-kit to learn how to launch a local event, complete with flyers, graphics, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Spread the word about the risk of radon after becoming informed yourself at http://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon. Ignorance is no excuse with this killer, so arm yourself with accurate information and take steps to keep your home safe.
• If you’re in the market for a new home, or know someone who is, consider buying a radon-resistant home after learning the facts at http://www.epa.gov/radon/building-radon-out-step-step-guide-how-build-radon-resistant-homes, and finding a knowledgeable builder at http://www.epa.gov/radon/directory-builders-using-radon-resistant-new-construction-rrnc.

More information is available online through the US EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-month-consumer-information – takeaction.

And remember, January may be Radon Action Month, but radon claims lives all twelve months of the year. Protect your home from this silent killer by testing to determine radon gas levels, and taking the necessary steps to limit radon’s reach.

The post Radon Action Month: Reducing Radon Risk appeared first on Airthings.

Wondering how you can secure your home in the 21st century? Here are our top 10 surprising ways to keep your home safe in 2016. Sources are included at the bottom.

1. Measuring your radon levels

You may not have heard about it, but radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. About 20,000 people die annually in the US from radon exposure in their homes, and most of them have no idea that they’re at risk. The only way to know if your home is affected  by radon gas, and secure your home, is to test. Here is a top rated radon detector on Amazon.

2. Smart lock

Does your standard lock cut the mustard in today’s home-sharing economy? Many homeowners use old-fashioned lockboxes to provide keys to Airbnb guests. But what do you do when keys go missing? A smart lock allows you to give certain people access for a limited time only. The best part is that you don’t have to share any keys! August provides some of the most popular smart locks to date.

3. Smart smoke detector

Your house probably has a smoke detector. But does it work? An average of about 2,570 people die from fires each year in the US. Nest provides state of the art smoke detectors taking your home into the 21st century. Their detector is coupled with your smart device so you get notified even when you’re not home.

4. Restrict pool access

Your children may already know how to swim, but what about when you’re not home? Children in the neighborhood may find a pool very tempting and no-one wants to end up with a hurt child. Ensure that your pool is not easily accessible.

5. Slippery surfaces

Falling is the leading cause of injury related deaths in the home. According to the CDC, unintentional falls claim approximately 30,000 lives per year. Does your bathtub have a bath mat? If not, this may be the time to purchase one. Here is a top rated bath mat on Amazon.

6. Secure pain killers, alcohol, and cleaning agents

Many homeowners leave their cleaning agents or pain medication easily accessible. But what about when your friend’s children are visiting? Poisoning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in the home with an estimated 5,000 deaths a year in the US. Ensure that medication is difficult to reach.

7. Unhealthy food

We all know it; leaving tasty snacks around the house can be bad for our health. However, many think that they have the self-control to avoid eating the food once they bought it at the store. That is not always the case. Diabetes is the underlying cause of approximately 60,000 deaths in the US yearly. And coronary heart disease? A whopping 370,000 die from that every year.

8. Leave the bathroom unlocked

Since the bathroom is one of the most slippery places in our homes, ever considered leaving the door unlocked? If you are comfortable with other members of the family or friends you should probably leave the door to the bathroom unlocked. That way, if there is an emergency, you are more likely to receive first aid in those first crucial minutes.

9. Befriend your neighbors

Aware neighbors are a great first defence against burglary – especially on vacation. It might be a good idea to ask them to take in your newspapers and pay extra attention should something happen. Approximately 2 million burglaries happen every year in the US alone.

10. Ensure proper ventilation

Have you ever seen mold in a bathroom? That might be caused by poor ventilation. In addition, improving ventilation can help with asthmatic symptoms, pollen allergies, and other respiratory ailments. About 3 million global deaths yearly are due to chronic respiratory diseases.

Sources:

• Burglary: https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/offenses/property_crime/burglary.html
• Coronary Heart Disease http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
• Falling deaths: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm
• Fire deaths: http://www.nfpa.org/press-room/news-releases/2013/seven-people-die-each-day-in-reported-us-home-fires
• Nest smoke detectors: https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/meet-nest-protect/
• Poisoning deaths: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm
• Radon detector: https://airthings.com
• Radon risk: http://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon
• Respiratory diseases: http://www.who.int/respiratory/en/

The post Secure Your Home: Top 10 Surprising Ways appeared first on Airthings.

Radon gas is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It’s produced as a byproduct as certain radioactive elements decay. The most common type of radon has a half life of 3.8 days, which means half of the gas is left 3.8 days after it formed. It is one of the densest gases, and its radioactive nature makes it a recognized danger to health.

Spectral lines of radon

Radon is emitted from radioactive materials like thorium and uranium as they turn into lead. These two radioactive materials are abundant in the earth’s crust and they both have exceptionally lengthy half-lives, which means they will be present for millions of years. This means radon will also be present for millions of years (U.S. Public Health Service). Radon decay also creates radioactive byproducts. However, while radon is a gas, its progeny (the scientific name for its byproducts) are solid and form a dust-like substance that can be breathed into the lungs and ingested in water (Mass.gov).

Radon is the only common radioactive gas. Other radioactive materials are solids, and therefore most people do not come into contact with them. But radon gas comes from the ground and as a gas moves freely, accounting for most of a person’s exposure to radiation. One interesting fact is that despite radon’s half-life only being 3.8 days, the half-life of thorium and uranium is very long. This means while radon itself does not last long, its parent elements take a long time to decay so they will constantly putting off new radon after old radon disappears. Also, because radon comes from radioactive solids trapped in the ground, radon can occur in underground water.

Radon in the periodic table

Because it is an airborne radioactive substance, a link between radon and cancer may seem obvious, and it has been shown to lead to lung cancer. For this reason, radon gas levels are a key measure used to assess the quality of air in a city or building. The US Environmental Protection Agency claims radon is second only to smoking as a contributing factor to lung cancer. Of the 21,000 US residents who die of lung cancer each year, 2,900 do not smoke. EPA estimation places radon gas as the number one cause of lung cancer in people who do not smoke (EPA).

Radon is measured by volume because it is a gas. Gases expand into the size of the container in which they are found, so a measurement per cubic volume tells you how concentrated the gas is throughout that container. Two common units for radon are “becquerel per cubic meter,” which is shortened to Bq/m3, and “picocurie per liter,” shortened to pCi/L. The standard unit in the United States is pCi/L, while Bq/m3 is standard elsewhere. 1 pCi/L is equivalent to 37 Bq/m3.

The History of Radon Gas

Radon was initially observed by scientists conducting experiments on radioactive materials such as thorium and uranium. It was observed that these elements let off a radioactive “emanation,” a sort of radioactive field around the element that lost its radioactivity over time. This is what we now know as radon.

The hazards associated with radon were recognized well before radon was actually discovered. For instance, miners were often diagnosed with a general “wasting” sickness characterized by increasingly poor health. The correlation between poorly ventilated mining operations and this wasting sickness was recognized as early as 1530 (Roland Masse). Since then, mines have been measured to have radon gas levels in excess of 1 million Bq/m3 or 27,027 pCi/L. This is essentially swimming in radon, as the US EPA “actionable” level of radon, which is an upper limit at which action should be taken against radon, is just 148 Bq/m3 or 4.0 pCi/L. These radon-rich mines were naturally radioactive, being uranium operations that were part of the nuclear arms race of the Cold War.

Residential radon levels first came into the fore in the 1950s, but did not enter public consciousness at large until 1984 during a highly covered investigation into radioactivity contributing to cancer. In this incident, a man working at a nuclear reactor was noted to have high levels of radioactivity on his person. The investigation revealed his high radioactivity was not from the nuclear plant but rather from elevated levels of radon in his home. This case and its publicity alerted the general populace to the possibility that radon in the home can lead to radioactive contamination (The Western Journal of Medicine).

Where Does Radon Come From?

Radium is present in many different types of rock, from ones with active uranium to granite, schist, limestone, etc. In general, rocks formed by heat or pressure (either through cooling magma in the case of igneous or in the heated or pressurized formation of metamorphic rock) are the ones that tend to have some amount of radon-producing elements. This is why granites used in construction can put off radon (although this is not a major source of radon). Interestingly, soil itself also has traces of radioactive elements, which means soil also releases radon into the atmosphere. Regions with extreme airflow and few rocks such as large bodies of water or ice tend to have almost no radon. On the other hand, extreme concentrations of radon in poorly ventilated houses can reach 2,000 Bq/m3 (Environmental Management and Health).

Technically, radon comes from a radioactive decay chain, of which uranium and thorium are parts. In a decay chain, one radioactive element turns into another over time. For instance, uranium will turn into thorium, which turns into radium and, finally, into radon.

Most commonly, radon occurs as part of uranium’s decay chain although it also occurs in thorium’s decay chain. These radioactive materials tend to occur underground and release radon into the earth, which seeps up into the atmosphere. For this reason, your chances of contact with radon are extremely high in comparison to raw radioactive solids. Of course, you need not worry about radon constantly. Most of the time, radon levels are so low that they will have no effect on you. What’s more, as radon gets further from its source it tends to diminish in amount because its half life is only about 3.8 days. For the same reason, radon gas levels can change drastically based on weather factors such as wind, temperature, etc (Environmental Health Perspectives). Radium can also be found in and around hot springs, and there are a number of springs around the world that are noted for their high amounts of radon gas (« The Clinical Principles Of Balneology & Physical Medicine »). What’s more, water carrying radon releases its radon when exposed to air. This means groundwater can have higher levels of radon as compared to surface water (USGS).

How Much is Too Much Radon?

In 2009 the World Health Organization suggested a limit of 100 Bq/m3 or 2.7 pCi/L for residential radon. Recognizing this level may not always be feasible, the WHO gives the secondary limit of 300 Bq/m3 or 8.1 pCi/L, which is meant to be an absolute maximum and does not reflect recommended conditions (WHO). The US EPA, on the other hand, states that homes with as little as 74 Bq/m3 or 2.0 pCi/L should think about taking action (“Radiation Protection”). The European Union and other agencies have their own recommended levels as well, all of which tend to average around 4.0 pCi/L. Recommended amounts of radon tend to fall within a range rather than an agreed-upon single number, but all recommendations suggest limiting exposure to radon.

Residential radon risk is serious for non-smokers as they have been shown to have a higher risk of lung cancer from radon exposure. That said, the risk may be even more serious for smokers, as smoking has a synergistic effect with radon exposure in forming cancerous lung tumors. This means smoking and radon compound each other, making it even easier to develop lung cancer if you smoke and are exposed to radon than just smoking alone or just radon alone (The BMJ).

Radon and its decay byproduct can be carried by water, although this phenomenon and its implications for health have been less studied than radon gas. For instance, estimates for radon’s half life in water range from 30 minutes up to 100 minutes. Interestingly, water contaminated with radon and then ingested was shown in one 1999 study to have a nearly insignificant impact on health (National Academies Press). Again, though, more research must be conducted before it can be determined whether or not radon impacts health.

Water carrying radon gas releases that radon as it comes into contact with air. Agitating water carrying radon accelerates its ability to release radon into the air, and effective means of agitation include heating, depressurizing, and aerating. All of these effects take place in a shower, which makes it optimal for removing radon from water.

How to Test for Radon Gas

Home testing for radon is recommended due to radon’s tendency to gather inside buildings and ability to lead to lung cancer (and potentially other cancers such as blood cancer). Testing for radon requires a radon detector, which can be purchased online and at home improvement stores. There are two types of radon tests: a short-term test, which lasts from 2 to 7 days and a strict set of rules to make sure the test is properly conducted, and a long-term test or monitor, which lasts up to a year but can be as short as a couple of weeks.

A modern, digital radon detector.

To use a short-term test, the homeowner must purchase and hang a detector in the lowest level of their house because it is closest to the ground, the emanation point of radon, and therefore where radon levels tend to be highest. When the test is complete, the homeowner must submit the short-term kit to a lab to assess the kit and await results of the test. Some short-term tests do not require sending the kit to a lab, although these tend to be less accurate.

Long-term radon detectors are also commercially available. These can be lab-based or can have digital readouts, allowing the homeowner to test multiple areas of their home throughout the year. The advantage of long-term detectors is the more accurate radon reading they give homeowners and the ability to monitor radon over time, although they tend to be more expensive than short-term kits.

Short-term tests are good for determining whether or not immediate action should be taken, but they do not provide an adequate picture of radon in a home over the long term. Oftentimes, people who conduct a short-term test and find high levels of radon in their home are forced to conduct a longer-term test to verify the short-term test results. This is the case if concentrations fall between 4.0 pCi/L and 10.0 pCi/L. If the short-term test shows more than 10 pCi/L in the home, another short-term test is recommended so that radon mitigation action is not delayed more than it needs to be.

Radon levels month by month for a European Home.

Actions taken to reduce radon levels include installation of a radon mitigation system (which sucks radon up from the soil beneath a home), increasing airflow within the house and restricting flow of radon from below the house to the house itself, and other types of pump or pressurized systems. One important thing to note about improving airflow within the home is that increased air flow on its own it can actually lead to increased levels of radon in the home as the airflow reduces pressure inside the home, which sucks air from the ground up into the home. This results in a greater concentration of radon in the home. With any attempt to reduce radon in the home, long-term radon monitoring is necessary to ensure radon levels are successfully reduced. Monitoring will tell you if radon levels go down, stay the same, or go up, which is crucial information to understand as you start to interfere with how radon flows in and around your house.

Sources

• Environmental Health Perspectives. Steck, Daniel J.; Field, R. William; Lynch, Charles F. « Exposure to Atmospheric Radon ». http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566320/
• Environmental Management and Health. Sperrin, Malcolm; Gillmore, Gavin; Denman, Tony. « Radon concentration variations in a Mendip cave cluster. » http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/09566160110404881
• EPA. « A Citizen’s Guide to Radon ». October 12, 2010. https://www.epa.gov/radon
• EPA « Radiation Protection: Radon ». November 2007. https://www.epa.gov/radiation
• Mass.gov. « Public Health Fact Sheet on Radon — Health and Human Services ». November 21, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111121032816/http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/community-health/environmental-health/exposure-topics/radiation/radon/public-health-fact-sheet-on-radon.html
• National Academies Press. “Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water”. 2003. http://www.nap.edu/read/6287/chapter/1
• Roland Masse. “Le radon, aspects historiques et perception du risque.” http://web.archive.org/web/20071009164542/http://www.radon-france.com/pdf/historique.pdf
• The BMJ. “Replies to Radon in homes and risk of lung cancer: collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 European case-control studies.” 2005. http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7485/223?tab=responses
• « The Clinical Principles Of Balneology & Physical Medicine.” https://web.archive.org/web/20080508064535/http://amtamassage.org:80/journal/winter03_journal/balneology.html
• The Western Journal of Medicine. 156(1): 25–9. PMC 1003141. PMID 1734594. Samet, J. M. « Indoor radon and lung cancer. Estimating the risks. » 1992. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1003141/
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