Radon exposure at the lowest actionable level is the same as 200 chest x-rays per year or 8 cigarettes per day. Knowing numbers related to radon levels in your home or workplace is the first step to preventing lung cancer and other diseases.
From radon’s (Rn) atomic number on the periodic table of 86 to the 226,000 number of radon related lung cancer deaths worldwide every year, radon numbers are worth knowing.
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas released during the natural decay of uranium in soil and rocks. It enters homes and buildings through cracks and other openings in foundations such as sump pumps. Buildings trap radon inside where the gas decays into harmful radioactive atoms that get caught in the respiratory tract when people breathe
Below are the top radon numbers you need to know:
1 in 15
The number of homes with high radon levels in the United States is 1 in 15 and about 6.9% in Canada.
2
Test your home for radon every two years as part of routine maintenance, according to the EPA. Test more frequently if you have a radon mitigation system, have renovated your home, or just moved to a new home.
4.0 and 200
According to the EPA, the actionable level for radon is 4.0 pCi/L. The Health Canada guideline for radon remediation is 200 Bq/m3.
24,000
An estimated 21,000 Americans die from radon induced lung cancer each year according to the EPA and 3,000 Canadians per year according to Health Canada. Worldwide, 230,000 people lose their life to radon induced lung cancer every year.
5
If you have never smoked, your risk of getting lung cancer after exposure to the radon limit over a lifetime is the same as the risk of dying in a car crash. For smokers, the risk of getting lung cancer after exposure to the radon action limit over a lifetime is 5 times the risk of dying in a car crash.
90
A three month, 90 day, alpha track test is the most accurate radon detector on the market. The longer you measure, the more accurate your results will be. The Radtrak3 detector measures from 90 to 365 days.
48
A quick radon screen can be done in 48 hours. The QuickScreen charcoal radon detector is a fast and easy way to test your home. Place the detector in your home for 2-4 days (48-96 hours) and mail it in for analysis.
3
Measure with a radon detector in at least 3 rooms in your home – the main living area, bedrooms, and any room where you spend more than 4 hours per day.
24/7
A digital home radon instrument can measure radon in your home 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The EcoQube is a cube-shaped instrument that fits in the palm of your hand and can be placed in any room with results delivered directly to your smartphone.
1,000,000s
Radonova has performed millions of radon measurements in over 50 countries, making Radonova the global leader in radon measurement.
About Radonova
Radonova is the laboratory of choice for numerous government radon surveys, as well as other public, and private sector large-scale measurement contracts around the world. A truly global laboratory, Radonova is active in over 50 countries and has performed millions of radon measurements.
