Tennessee area, Knoxville-Knox County, and the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee, as well as smaller pockets throughout the state. On average, 16 percent of Tennessee’s single-family homes are thought to have unsafe radon levels; in some areas, that number ranges from 30 to 50 percent. Of course, radon can be present in
any type of building, including schools and offices. But families risk greatest exposure where they spend the most time: at home. Radon can enter a home through
cracks in walls, construction joints or solid walls; gaps in suspended floors or around service pipes; or even the water supply. To avoid the
pCi/L, you may want to test again some- time in the future. The average indoor radon level is
estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L; the av- erage outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L. While Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no higher than outdoor levels, this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases. However, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or lower. Keep in mind that the EPA consid-
discounted prices. Store hours
Resources/Further Reading:
risk of radon, the EPA recommends that you take a short-term test. If the result indi- cates a dangerous concentration (measured as 4 pCi/L or higher), take a follow-up test to be sure. A long-term test will give you a better understanding of your year-round aver- age radon level, but a second short-term test will yield results more quickly. In general, the higher your initial short- term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a short-term rather than a long-term follow-up test. If your first short-term test result is more than twice EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately. If you followed up with a long-
ers any radon exposure to carry some risk; no level of radon is safe, and you can reduce your family’s risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level. There are
EPA.gov/radon: See “Citizen’s Guide to Radon” and “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction”
TN.gov/environment/ea/radon: See “Radon in Tennessee”
Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-634-1004
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several ways to reduce radon in your home, but the most common is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the
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outside. This does not require major changes to your home, and sealing foundation cracks and other openings enhances the system’s effectiveness and cost-efficiency. However, radon con- tractors can recommend the best system for your home, depending on its design and other factors. The cost of reducing radon in your
term test, a result of 4 pCi/L or more indicates that you should fix your home to prevent further radon exposure. If you followed up with a second short-term test, the higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. A good rule of thumb is to fix your home if the average of your first and second tests is 4 pCi/L or higher. If your living patterns change and
you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a basement), you should retest your home on that level. And even if your test result is below 4
home depends on how it was built and the extent of the problem. While most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs, the costs can vary widely, so consult with your state radon office or get one or more estimates from qualified mitiga- tors. The least expensive system is one installed during home construction.
David Bashor is a certified indoor en- vironmentalist for the Affinity Group in Soddy Daisy, TN. For more information about radon or to have your home tested, contact the Affinity Group at 423-332- 7077, or visit
AffinityEnvironmental.com. Affinity Group’s technicians are certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program. See ad, page 12.
natural awakenings January 2012 21
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