Patient advocate: Radon: odorless, colorless, dangerous

It’s been well established that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. The second leading cause may surprise you. It’s radon. And if you haven’t tested your home for radon recently, or have never tested it, get on it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that radon is a culprit in about 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year. The risk of lung cancer in people who smoke and are exposed to radon is even higher.

The effects of radon take a long time to show up — sometimes 10 to 20 years after significant exposure. Therefore, it seems logical to ensure your house is tested periodically, especially if you are remaining in your house for years and children are growing up there.

Here are some things to know about radon.

What is radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas released as the naturally occurring uranium in soil and rock decays. So it’s everywhere, indoors and outdoors. The concentration, though, tends to be greater indoors, especially in basements and crawlspaces. The inert gas and microscopic particles related to its decay enter the body when you inhale.

Additionally, radon may be present in your workplace, more so if you work in an underground location or an older building with insufficient ventilation.

What are its health effects?

While radon is a known carcinogen, not everyone exposed to elevated radon levels will develop lung cancer. There is no evidence that radon-induced lung cancer risk differs between children and adults.

Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:

• How much radon is in your home;

• The amount of time you spend in your home;

• Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked.

How do you test for radon?

Radon test kits are widely available online and from big-box stores and home improvement stores. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing the lowest living space in your home, such as a finished basement where you spend significant time, as well as any bottom level that could be turned into livable space.

If your DIY test shows elevated radon, you will want to contact a professional to conduct a more thorough test for radon and mitigate it.

When does radon become dangerous?

Radon is everywhere, but the higher the concentrations, the higher the risk of associated health implications. The EPA recommends that you look to mitigate radon levels if they reach or exceed 4.0 pCi/L, which is 4 picocuries per liter of air. This is considered comparable to smoking eight cigarettes a day or receiving 200 chest X-rays each year.

If you find you’ve been living with elevated radon levels, make sure a chest X-ray is part of your annual physical.

How is radon mitigated?

Radon mitigation systems use a fan to continuously pull air from the soil and vent it outdoors through a pipe that ends above the edge of the roof, away from windows and other openings. In addition, cracks and openings in the foundation are sealed.

While DIY mitigation kits are available, they’re not generally recommended because of the complexities of construction and building codes. In the Chicago area, radon mitigation costs between $1,200 and $2,000. Costs vary, however, based on level of contamination and house size.

Is radon a problem in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois ranks 17th in the U.S. for radon risk, and elevated levels have been found in every county. The Illinois Department of Emergency Management (iemaohs.illinois.gov) has additional information as well as an interactive map showing where radon is most prevalent in the state.

What if you’re buying, selling or building a home?

The Illinois Radon Awareness Act and the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act require that a home seller disclose if they’re aware of unsafe concentrations of radon in a home. The acts do not require testing or remediation; however, mortgage companies are increasingly factoring radon into the buying and selling process. If high radon levels are detected, they may require mitigation before they’ll approve the loan.

So let the buyer beware: If you’re buying an existing home, insist on a radon test as a condition for the sale. In new construction, building in radon resistance and mitigation is less expensive than fixing it later.

Awareness is half the battle

You’re probably already aware of potential indoor contaminants such as smoke, carbon monoxide and mold, and now you can add radon to the list. It’s one more thing to monitor — and another way to protect your family’s health.

• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg, a registered nurse, board-certified patient advocate, is the founder of www.NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com, which trains medical professionals to become successful private patient advocates. She is the author of “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” available on Amazon. Frykenberg offers a free phone consultation to readers. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com.