| Radon
gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette
smoke. Colorado is a state with generally high levels of radon
gas throughout the state. Radon gas comes from uranium in the
soil which on breakdown, creates radon gas. It then migrates
with other soil gases into the home where it can enter the lungs.
Testing is the only way to know what the radon gas concentrations
are within your home. It is recommended that all homes be tested
for the level of concentration of radon gas.
AXIS Home
Inspections performs radon testing per guidelines of the National
Environmental Health Association (NEHA), previously under
the auspices of the EPA. George Phillips, of AXIS Home Inspections
LLC, is certified with NEHA as a residential measurement service
provider No. 101531 RT, and performs the testing. The monitoring
devices used by AXIS Inspections are electronic monitors.
They sample the air and provide a read out, with hourly averages
of the radon levels, for the duration of the test. The average
of these hourly readings is the test result. Axis Home Inspections
can provide results immediately at the end of the test period.
The EPA's
recommendations are that when radon test results indicate
levels above 4pCi/L ("pCi/L" is "pico Curies
per liter") remediation is recommended. Remediation is
a term which means to implement strategies or to put into
place certain measures to reduce radon levels in the home.
EPA / NEHA PROTOCOL FOR RADON TESTING
NEHA standards
for short term radon testing specify "closed house conditions"
for 12 hours prior to beginning testing as well as for the
entire duration of the testing, which is typically 48 hours
for a short term test for a real estate transaction.
The following
are the requirements for "closed house conditions":
·
Windows on all levels and external doors should be kept closed
(except during normal entry and exit) during the measurement
period. (To the extent possible, external doors should not
be left open for more than a few minutes during the measurement
period.)
·
Do not operate fans, especially whole house fans, or other
machines that bring in air from the outside or push air from
inside the home to the outside. Normal operation of the heating
system(s) or air conditioning system(s) is permitted. (These
air conditioning systems must only recirculate interior air.)
This is a brief up description of radon gas as a health risk.
For more detailed information please click on the link on
the EPA website for additional radon gas information and resources:
(www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html)
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