Informing about ill effects of radon on health

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the home safety standard for radioactive radon gas, recommending that homeowners take action to reduce the level of radon gas if it exceeds 4 picocuries per litre of air. One picocurie (a trillionth of a curie, a common measure of radiation) represents the decay of two radon atoms per minute in a litre of air.

To reduce radon levels, homeowners may need to take steps as simple as installing fans for ventilation, (estimated to cost about $150) or as involved as sealing cracks along walls and floors ($300-$500) and installing exhaust pipes to draw the radon back outdoors (costing from $2,500 to $5,000).

Environmental officials said homeowners have to have their homes tested to find out if it contains the gas which can't be seen or smelled. Testing kits may be bought by homeowners for $10 to $50 apiece or private contractors can be hired.

The risk can usually be reduced by sealing floors so the gas cannot seep indoors, and sometimes by installing a small permanent fan below the floor to waft the gas out through air vents.