It’s colorless, odorless and tasteless, but radon is far from being harmless. It rises up from far beneath the earth’s surface, thus making it a naturally occurring element swirling around in the atmosphere, causing serious illnesses to the unsuspecting.
On September 25, Mattapoisett Public Health Nurse Emily Field hosted Jen Lajoie, an environmental analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health Indoor Air Quality program. Lajoie’s mission is educating the public on the dangers associated with radon emissions in private homes and steps that can be taken to minimize its impact.
In literature distributed by Lajoie and in her presentation, we learned that both old and new homes can have high-radon readings, most prevalently in homes built on ledge or sandy soils. Radon’s entrance into homes commonly occurs from basement spaces but can also include floor-wall joints, sump pits, utility-line penetrations, dirt floors, crawl spaces, block-wall foundations, and cracks and crevices in floors and walls.
The state’s published details go on to say, “…radon concentrations tend to be highest in the lowest levels of a home. Since indoor air represents the largest exposure to radon…,” testing should be conducted to determine if radon is at critical levels.
And there is more concerning news, as private wells is another pathway for the chemical to enter the home.
To help residents of the commonwealth, the state is offering free test kits while supplies last, Lajoie said.
But just how does radon enter the environment?
Lajoie explained that underground stores of uranium go through radioactive transformation (radium decay). Radon gases are produced and released from the ground up.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports that 21,000 radon-related deaths occur annually but are preventable. The state building code mandates the installation of radon testing equipment and systems in new home construction.
Mattapoisett Building Inspector Andy Bobola said in a follow-up, “… it makes sense especially in new construction (a time when it’s easier to install remediation equipment that will draw radon gases away from the home) or if major renovations are taking place; however, there aren’t any mandated requirements for protection for existing homes.”
Lajoie said that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates 628 radon-related lung cancers occur annually in Massachusetts with as many as 650,000 homes having radon levels that exceed action guidelines.
It begs the question, “can my home be fixed?” The short answer is yes.
The DPH literature states that a method called “active soil depressurization” is used to lower radon levels. A zone of low pressure below the house’s slab reduces the rate of radon entering a home. There are established, safe radon levels; those are 2 to 4 pCil/L.
The DPH has a Radon Assessment Unit that can provide individual guidance. To receive a free radon test kit, call 800-723-6695 or visit DPHIAQ.radon@mass.gov.
Mattapoisett Board of Health
By Marilou Newell