MUSSON ENVIRONMENTAL & INSPECTION
Radon Mitigation.
Environmental Due Diligence (commercial real estate).
Residential Home Inspection.
(916) 261-6301
WHAT IS RADON?
An old, but factful video from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Radon is a cancer causing gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Decaying radon gas bi-products give off radiation once the gas begins to break down inside the home. Once inhaled, these decay products may damage the lung tissue, increasing the risk of lung cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set an action level for radon at 4.0 pCi/L, which means, mitigation should be sought as a corrective action measure in order to reduce the radon to an acceptable concentration within the home or building. However, there IS NOT a “safe level” for radon and any exposure to the gas may have an associated risk.
The United States Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Smokers and former smokers are at a greater risk than non-smokers. Studies show an average radon death rate of 21,000 people / year in the United States.
For more information on radon and the associated risk of radon gas, please visit the EPA website provided below.
MY HOUSE HAS ELEVATED RADON.
Now what?
Installing a radon mitigation system in a home or building is the best way to reduce the indoor radon concentrations. A radon mitigation system is a series of PVC pipes, tapped into the subsurface soils under the home. The intention is to extract the soil gas (radon-laden air) from under the home, then discharge it to a safe location.
A radon mitigation system is a network of pipes, acting to capture, transport, and vent radon gas. In return, this will reduce the radon levels within the home or building space; thus, reducing the risk of exposure to the gas. Most often times, homes and buildings are mitigated using a technology / method commonly referred to as Active Soil Depressurization (ASD). This method uses a fan or “air pump” to extract radon-laden air from the soil voids, underneath the basement slab. Essentially, the air underneath the slab becomes depressurized with respect to the interior air as the fan maintains constant vacuum pressure on the air beneath the slab.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established an action level for radon gas of 4.0 pCi/L. This means that radon detected at or above 4.0 pCi/L represents an unacceptable risk, thus, mitigation work should be sought to reduce the concentration. Any exposure to radon gas may present a health risk. At MEI, we guarantee to reduce the indoor radon concentration to 2.5 pCi/L or lower. This is verified by performing follow up testing, post-system installation.
