What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless and radioactive gas found naturally in some soils and rocks. It is formed from the decay of naturally occurring radioactive materials such as uranium and thorium

What are the Health Effects From Exposure to Radon?
There are no immediate symptoms. Radon in indoor air is estimated to cause between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States . Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer. The only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure is lung cancer. Lung cancer would usually occur years (5-25) after exposure. There is no evidence that other respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are caused by radon exposure and there is no evidence that children are at any greater risk of radon induced lung cancer than adults.

What is  the Average Level of Radon Found in a Home?
Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in the United States . The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.

What is the Extent of Radon in New Mexico ?
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have evaluated the radon potential in the U.S. and have developed this map is to assist National, State, and local organizations to target their resources and to assist building code officials in deciding whether radon-resistant features are applicable in new construction. This map is not intended to be used to determine if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location. The map assigns each of the 3,141 counties in the U.S. to one of three zones based on radon potential. Each zone designation reflects the average short-term radon measurement that can be expected to be measured in a building without the implementation of radon control methods. The radon zone designation of the highest priority is Zone 1.

Important: Consult the EPA Map of Radon Zones document (EPA-402-R-93-071) before using this map. This document contains information on radon potential variations within counties. EPA also recommends that this map be supplemented with any available local data in order to further understand and predict the radon potential of a specific area.  This and other indoor air quality publications can be ordered through the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse.

Is Radon Present in Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque?
Yes, a pilot project done in the mid 90's found high levels of radon in the far NE heights. The results are summarized in the graphic below.

How do you test for Radon?
There are two types of radon testing devices. Passive radon testing devices do not need power to function. These include charcoal canisters, alpha-track detectors, charcoal liquid scintillation devices, and electret ion chamber detectors. Both short- and long-term passive devices are generally inexpensive. Active radon testing devices require power to function and usually provide hourly readings and an average result for the test period. These include continuous radon monitors and continuous working level monitors, and these test may cost more. A state or local official can explain the differences between devices and recommend ones which are more appropriate for your needs and expected testing conditions

What Do Your Radon Test Results Mean?
The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picoCuries of radon per liter of air," or "pCi/L."  Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels, "WL," rather than picoCuries per liter of air.  A level of 0.02 WL is usually equal to about 4 pCi/L in a typical home.

The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels; about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air.  EPA recommends fixing your home if the results one long-term test or the average of two short-term tests show radon levels of 4 pCi/L (or 0.02 WL) or higher.  With today's technology, radon levels in most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.  You may also want to consider fixing if the level is between 2 and 4

How Do I take care of a Radon Problem in my Home?
EPA recommends that you have a qualified radon mitigation contractor fix your home because lowering high radon levels requires specific technical knowledge and special skills. Without the proper equipment or technical knowledge, you could actually increase your radon level or create other potential hazards and additional costs. However, if you decide to do the work yourself, get information on appropriate training courses and copies of EPA's technical guidance documents .

What are Radon-resistant construction techniques?
The techniques may vary for different foundations and site requirements, but the basic elements are:

A. Gas Permeable Layer This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel.
B. Plastic Sheeting Plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home. In crawlspaces, the sheeting is placed over the crawlspace floor.
C. Sealing and Caulking All openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home.
D. Vent Pipe A 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (commonly used for plumbing) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house.
E. Junction Box An electrical junction box is installed in case an electric venting fan is needed later.

Who do I call if I have Radon Questions ?

• For a Test kit or for other Radon information Contact Michael Taylor (NMED in Santa Fe) 505-827-1093, or email michael.taylor@state.nm.us.
• State of New Mexico Radon Information
• U S. EPA 1-800-SOS-RADON
• EPA Radon Web link http://www.epa.gov/radon/