RADON Steve Lisser Environmental Health Specialist Sauk County Health Department

SAUK COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Inspections Hotels, tourist rooming houses, B&B’s Restaurants and retail food Campgrounds School lunch programs Tattoo and piercing Well water sampling and sanitary surveys Environmental concerns and health hazards Lead mercury Rabies Air quality Water quality Waste Housing Education/consulting Radon

WHAT IS RADON? Radioactive gas Colorless, odorless, tasteless Naturally occurring Inert noble gas: Radon gas does not carry an electrical charge and easily passes through filters.

HEALTH RISK Radon gas is a group 1 carcinogen. (proven and demonstrated to cause cancer) Leukemia and childhood leukemia Radon decay products release alpha particles that damage lung tissue DNA. This leads to an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs (lung cancer).

HEALTH RISK Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Around 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. caused by radon. If living in a home with a radon concentration of 4 pCi/L, smokers are 8 times more likely to get lung cancer from radon exposure than non-smokers Any exposure to radiation increases cancer risk and there is no threshold value or acceptable exposure that has been scientifically proven. No “safe” exposure level has been scientifically established.

WHERE DOES RADON COME FROM? Uranium deposits Uranium and radium decay result in radon gases Radon zones: Average indoor radon concentrations. Zone 1: >4 pCi/L Zone 2: 2-4 pCi/L Zone 3: <2 pCi/L

WHERE DOES RADON COME FROM?

RADON TESTING Radon is measured in units of pCi/L Annual average U.S. radon concentration levels: 0.4 pCi/L outdoors and 1.3 pCi/L indoors Action levels: Action is not required by law, but it is recommended. EPA action level: 4.0 pCi/L Due to the many factors that contribute to elevated radon concentrations, it is not possible to predict whether your house is putting you at an increased risk. Assumptions can not be made about indoor radon levels based on geography, building age, or neighbors test results. Radon measurement is needed to determine risk. Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to get their homes tested.

RADON TEST KITS Duration Placement of Short Term Kits Short term kits: Generally 2-4 days Long term kits: 91 days or longer Placement of Short Term Kits Must be done under closed house conditions Non-real estate: lowest lived in level Real estate transactions: Lowest livable level Test should not be done in kitchens, bathrooms, closets, crawl spaces, hallways, or laundry rooms 20 inches from floor, 3 feet from openings to the outdoors, 3 feet from any door or window, 1 foot from exterior walls, 4 inches from other objects Placed in an area where it will not be disturbed and away from heat sources and high humidity. Radon kit will include instructions for placement and shipping. Be sure to fill out all of the paperwork completely.

RADON ENTRY While radon is naturally occurring, the elevated concentrations that are often found in homes are unnatural. Indoor air radon sources: Soil Gasses Well water Building materials The way that buildings are designed, built, and operated can lead to an unnecessary cancer risk.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATIONS Source strength Transport of soil gasses Depressurization Stack effect Building use Environmental factors Pathways geology Soil permeability Openings into the house Ventilation

RADON MITIGATION Making the decision Sealing alone is ineffective. If initial test is under 4.0 pCi/L, no action is needed. If initial test is between 4.0 and 8.0 pCi/L, conduct long term follow up test and remediate if long term test is over 4.0 pCi/L If initial test is above 8.0 pCi/L, conduct short term follow up test and remediate if average is above 4.0 pCi/l Sealing alone is ineffective. Soil depressurization is most common and effective method of radon reduction.

RADON MITIGATION

RADON MITIGATION Cost estimates: not reliable Post mitigation concerns Installation cost: $800 and up Annual operating cost: Around $70 to $150 Post mitigation concerns A short term test is done between 24 hours and 30 days after mitigation system installation. The test must be placed in the same location as the initial measurements. Recommended to retest every two years thereafter. Leave fan running and do not attempt to change system. Call the mitigation contractor who installed the system for technical assistance.

RADON AND LANDLORD/TENANT Radon levels are not regulated so there are no enforceable standards for required indoor radon concentrations. Health department has no authority to order a landlord (or anyone) to mitigate a property. Tenants may still want to test their apartments so they can make an informed decision about lease renewal. Upper floors vs lower floors risk

RADON RESOURCES Test Kits $10 www.epa.gov/radon Handout materials PowerPoint presentation (email for sent copy) Test kits available at the following locations during late fall and winter months: Sauk County Health Department - West Square Building, Baraboo Lake Delton Village Offices - 50 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy South Reedsburg City Hall - 134 S. Locust St Spring Green Village Offices - 154 N Lexington Street Prairie Du Sac Village Office - 335 Galena Street Sauk County Health Department (608) 355-3290

QUESTIONS?