All About Radon Detectors

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is formed wherever there is uranium-an element present throughout the earth's crust. Since it is a gas, radon is mobile and poses little health risk if it makes its way to open air. It dissipates quickly in open areas, but if radon seeps into a house, it can collect in hazardous concentrations.

Inhaling radon or its decay products introduces radioactivity into the body-posing serious health hazards. There is no way to predict radon's presence or concentration through geological studies. One house can have low radon levels, while another located next to it may have high concentrations.

In many homes, radon measurements are made in the basement, since radon enters from the earth beneath the foundation.

There are several types of radon detectors capable of conducting radon tests.

Alpha-track devices consist of a small sheet of polycarbonate plastic. Alpha particles that strike the plastic cause microscopic pockmarks. After an exposure period, users mail the detector to a lab. The lab's count of the pockmarks gives a direct measure of the mean radon concentration.

Other types include electret ion chamber, continuous monitor and charcoal liquid scintillation. A short-term test will take from two to 90 days depending on the detection device chosen. Longer tests-usually with electret or alpha-track detectors-will give a more accurate reading of average radon exposure.

Be sure your radon kits meet the Environmental Protection Agency's requirements or are state certified. The kit packaging will tell you if it's EPA certified.

Remember that radon levels can change greatly, and a number of factors, such as frequency of opening and closing windows, can affect radon measurements. In addition, determining if radon is a health threat depends upon factors such as measurable radon levels and the number of hours a day a home is occupied.

You can be reassured that simple measures-such as improving basement ventilation-can eliminate a radon problem. Other solutions used in combination with the above methods include sealing cracks and holes in the foundation and concrete floors; using a fan to keep the house pressurized; and installing a heat-recovery ventilator while using the heated or cooled air being exhausted to warm or cool the incoming air.

DISCLAIMER: Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of the information in this document. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor Aubuchon Hardware can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

National Retail Hardware Association

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