What causes humidity indoors?

In layman’s terms, humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. A relative humidity of 100% would mean that the air itself is saturated, it is unable to hold any more water vapor, so it rains. Relative humidity is the most common indicator often used by weather forecasters and our experts at Airthings. The calculation of relative humidity can consider the fluctuating temperature at the present moment. The higher the temperature, the higher amount of water the air can hold.  

As humidity is simply the amount of water vapor present in the air, a multitude of things can cause these levels to fluctuate.  Anything from drying laundry to leaks can give off moisture which can lead to humidity. Even the moisture trapped in warm air can touch cold walls and revert to water. This is nothing to worry about, unless the levels get excessively high or excessively low. In this case, increase the ventilation or reduce the moisture through proper ventilation.

Humidity and immunity

Superficially, creating indoor environments with low levels of humidity would appear to be the natural solution. The dryer air would combat mold, however as we shall see, too little will also cause problems. In fact, low humidity and low temperatures have been found to  alter the transmission of infectious disease particles, such as the influenza virus. Therefore, low humidity levels actually facilitate the spread of infection, thus affecting the immune system.

Humidity and asthma

As most people are aware, high levels of dampness and humidity can supply enough moisture to facilitate mold growth. Not only this, but mold has been linked to asthma. Asthma is an incredibly common condition that makes it difficult to breathe. The Harvard Review found that 21% of the 21.8 million cases of asthma annually are attributable to residential dampness and mold. This means that the unsightly problem can additionally cause detrimental health effects.

Our experts have compiled a list of selected not-for-profit organizations that provide fantastic information regarding asthma should you require it:

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The National Health Service, UK

The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association

Humidity and employers

This is further problematized for employers, who are said to have received increased reports of itchy, watery eyes, headaches, throat irritation, respiratory symptoms, increased heart rate, negative mood, SBS symptoms, and fatigue from employees. This was associated with unfavorable heat, humidity, and ventilation conditions. Not only is sitting in a stuffy, hot or worse humid workplace frustrating, it can also have negative effects on your health. So much so, that there is an increase in common workplace irritations. Moreover, research found that « Increased water damage and mold have been found to negatively impact workplace productivity, job performance, quality of life, absenteeism, and classroom learning for office workers, teachers, and schoolchildren”. Therefore the impact is not only for adult office workers, but has potentially widespread effect of various age groups and areas.

Quick humidity solutions

The United States EPA recommends that relative humidity levels should not exceed 59% or fall below 30%. Quick fixes like those we have listed below can often help manage your humidity levels. However you must first be sure that there is not a larger underlying issue such as pipe leaks, or subpar insulation in key areas. Successful ventilation inside of your home will help create a relatively constant humidity level that adheres to recommendations, you just need to monitor the levels to make sure.

Compiled below are our easy, expert tips which will help to reduce the indoor humidity levels in your home:

• Bathroom fan.
  Installing a bathroom fan can help to improve air circulation in the bathroom where warm, damp air accumulates.
• Range hood.
  A range hood is a mechanical fan situated above the oven, stove or cooktop in the kitchen. It helps to extract steam, heat, cooking fumes and odors from the air.
• Washing line.
  Drying clothes on a line dryer out of doors will help combat the amount of moisture you are bringing into your home.
• Air conditioning.
  A very easy solution, but not always the most cost effective.
• Replacing air conditioning filters.
  Replacing existing air conditioning filters will help to ensure fresh air is being circulated
• Dehumidifier.
  It does what it says on the box; an electrical appliance that reduces and maintains the humidity in the surrounding air.
• Indoor plants.
  In particularly humid rooms of your home, it may help moving the house plants to other areas, as plants release small amounts of moisture.
• Opening windows.
  A little more challenging in the colder months maybe, but simply opening a window allows fresh air to come into your home and improve air circulation.
• Still no luck? Try not-for-profit resources such as Energy Saver, by the US Department of Energy. They have tons of further tips to help with home ventilation and moisture problems.

Humidity is one component of a wider consideration that makes up Indoor Air Quality. As society spends more and more time indoors, the importance of Indoor Air Quality is rising. You cannot measure for mold, but you can measure your humidity levels. More often or not people do not measure and only realise it is high once mold has already formed. Similarly with Radon gas, people are often not inclined to measure for it until they are made aware of being in a high risk area or selling their home requires it. The Airthings Wave can continuously test for relative humidity levels in your home. Meanwhile, it additionally measures for Radon and temperature, all of which impact your Indoor Air Quality.

References:

1. The annual review of public health, Harvard.
   https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044420#_i1
2. The United States Environmental Protection Agency. 
   https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/mold_webinar_qa.pdf
3. NHS England.
   https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
4. Energy Saver.
   https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/moisture-control
5. The New Daily.
   https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/property/2018/07/13/household-mould-dangers/
6. The Asthma and Allergy foundation of America.
   http://www.aafa.org/
7. The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy foundation.
   https://www.naaf.no

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The research

To test the assumption that temperatures impact performance, the scores of students retaking the PSAT test was compared to the score they received the first time they took the test. Average temperature on school days the year prior to taking the test, first and second time respectively, was included as a predictor.

The scores of roughly 10 million U.S. high-school students that took the PSAT two times in different years between 2001 and 2014 were included in the analysis. After controlling for confounding variables, the researchers found that there was a correlation between temperature difference in the respective years prior to the test sessions and scoring worse on the PSAT. The correlation was negative, meaning that an increase in temperature was associated with a decrease in test score. The effect was even greater for students in schools lacking air conditioning.

Each one degree F increase in average temperature on school days during one year reduced the amount learned by one percent.

Goodman and colleagues did, as mentioned, base their analysis on temperature data from school days. They also examined the impact of average temperature on weekends and public holidays. The latter two had no effect on scores. This suggests it was in fact the temperature when in school, while students were studying, that impacted their performance.

Further analysis revealed that each one degree F increase in average temperature on school days during one year reduced the amount learned by one percent. Considering only temperature when in school affected performance, it appears likely that the one percent decrease in amount learned is directly linked to each one degree F increase in temperature. Students thus learn significantly less at school when the temperature is higher.

What the research tells us

Apart from showing the importance of controlling temperature in school environments to facilitate optimal learning, the research alludes to how temperatures impact all of us. Workplaces should make sure that temperatures are kept at a comfortable level to make sure the employees are able to process information at full capacity. Being weary of the temperature in the home is also important, as students often do homework at home, and many of us engage in one or more forms of learning activities in our spare time.

Taking control of your temperature

An important first step in the process of taking control of the temperature is to measure it. Here at Airthings, we have developed solutions for both larger buildings such as schools and workplaces as well as for households.

Larger buildings can make good use of the Airthings Wave Plus, which in addition to temperature, measures volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, radon, humidity, and air pressure. Similarly to temperature, carbon dioxide has been associated with lower cognitive performance 2 and radon has been linked to an increased likelihood of lung cancer 3. Several Wave Plus devices can be linked to a single Airthings Hub over longer distances indoors, allowing for seamless monitoring of all measurements from several devices. The data can be accessed online through the Airthings Dashboard and via API access, making it easy for building managers take control.

Homeowners can also make use of the Airthings Dashboard, which works with the Airthings Wave. The Wave measures temperature, humidity, and air pressure. The Wave Plus and Hub can also be installed in homes. In addition to accessing the data through the Dashboard, it is also readily accessible through our app for both Android and iOS.

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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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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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Our built environments are becoming contaminated by the very things we install to make our lives comfortable, colorful, and interesting. Plastics and resins from carpeting and furnishings outgas petroleum byproducts. Flame retardants and stain repellents inject chemicals related to cancer, infertility, birth defects, early puberty, obesity, and autism. Personal care products send out fragrances that act as endocrine disruptors. Then there are the chemicals operating in stealth mode, without scent, color, or taste, quietly streaming into our environment undetected.

Few of us know how contaminated the air that we breathe really is, 12 to 20 times a minute, 60 minutes per hour, 24 hours per day. We assume that our government is overseeing the situation, with officials checking construction, administrators monitoring details, managers keeping tabs on maintenance, and congressmen on the lookout for danger, but that is not always the case.

Taking on the Challenge

It is hard for governments to cover all the bases these days. If you’d really like to know what’s in the air you breathe, it’s best to take control by monitoring your own space.

Airthings understands your concern, and has created a line of easy-to-use monitors that warn of unhealthy indoor air—specifically seeking out radon gas. Empowering individuals with a device that they can operate themselves, taking air quality measurements with a hand held, mobile monitor, Airthings puts the power of accurate, reliable air quality monitoring firmly in your hands. Measure where you want, when you want, as many times as you want, to ensure your space is a radon safe environment.

No more waiting 90 days for test results, keeping watch over vials of chemicals designed to measure contaminants, or calling strangers into your home or office to perform the tests for you.  With the Airthings monitor, immediate information is at your fingertips, whenever you have concerns about your environment.

Physics, Electronics, and Technology in the Palm of Your Hand

Designed by an elite team of researchers and developers that think differently about physics, electronics, and technology, Airthings products perform complicated tasks, quickly, accurately, and precisely, with the simple touch of a button. If you can handle the technology of three standard batteries, that’s as complicated as it gets. Click. Then read the display. It is really that easy.

Read more about air quality and pollution here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution

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