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Radon 101

Radon 101. Menasha Health Department Environmental Health. Vocabulary. Uranium : A radioactive element generally found in the environment. As uranium decays, it releases radiation and forms other elements (like radium and radon) until it becomes a stable element (lead).

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Radon 101

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  1. Radon 101 Menasha Health Department Environmental Health

  2. Vocabulary • Uranium: A radioactive element generally found in the environment. As uranium decays, it releases radiation and forms other elements (like radium and radon) until it becomes a stable element (lead). • Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock and water throughout the United States. Radon causes lung cancer and is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations. As a result, radon is the largest source of exposure to naturally occurring radiation

  3. Vocabulary • Radioactive decay: The process in which an unstable nucleus emits radiation and changes to a more stable isotope or element. A number of different particles can be emitted by decay. The most typical are alpha or beta particles, often accompanied by gamma radiation.

  4. Radon • Radon comes from Uranium in the ground via a series of radioactive decays • You can’t see, smell or taste it • It is found all over the US • It can get into any type of building • The only way to know if a building has radon is to test for it

  5. Half Life • Half-life: The amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay into a more stable form. • Half Life of Radon is 3.8 days

  6. Po-218 IN THE AIR Rn-222 IN THE GROUND Ra-226 alpha Pb-214 3 min alpha 3.8 d 27 min 1600 y beta Bi-214 Th 20 min beta Pb-210 alpha Po-214 U-238 0.0002 s 4.5 E9 y 21 y PARENTS AND PROGENY OF RADON-222

  7. How does radon get into buildings? • Construction joints • Cracks or gaps in floors and walls • Gaps around service pipes and through water supply lines • Drain tiles and sump pump crocks

  8. Sandy Soil Strong Radon Clay Sources ALL HOMES SHOULD BE TESTED ALL HOMES HAVING CONTACT WITH GROUND SHOULD BE TESTED, WHETHER CHANCE ELEVATED IS 1% OR >20%

  9. Geologic Soil and Bedrock RADIUM OFTEN TENDS TO CONCENTRATE IN SOIL B HORIZON BACKFILL IS SOIL E & B; TOPSOIL O AND A ARE USED ELSEWHERE PLEISTOCENE

  10. ESTIMATED PERCENTAGES OF HOMES WITH RADON > 4 pCi/L, MAIN FLOOR YEAR AVERAGE BY ZIP CODES; 87,000 MEASUREMENTS % > 4 pCi/L 0 – 1% 1 – 10% 10 – 20% > 20% < 4 MSMTS. Menasha

  11. Different Types of Radiation and their impact on the body Impacts tissue surface Enters tissue but does not pass through Travels through tissue all the way through the body Alpha radiation Beta Radiation Gamma Radiation

  12. Health Risks of Radon • Deposits of radioactive decay in lungs • Increases chance of lung cancer 20+ years later • Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers

  13. Radon Testing • Short Term Testing • 48 hours Minimum • Activated Charcoal • Place in the most occupied room in the lowest level of the house 20” above the floor

  14. Radon Follow-Up Testing • Alpha Track Detector • 90 to 365 Days • Will average level throughout the seasons

  15. Radon Levels • US EPA Radon action level: 4 pCi/L

  16. RADON CONTROL FOR EXISTING HOUSES: SUB-SLAB DEPRESSURIZATION FAN SEAL CRACKS AND OPENINGS TO SOIL DEPRESSURIZED ZONE

  17. WHEN BASEMENT AIR PRESSURE (dP) GOES DOWN, RADON ENTRY INCREASES. THE DAY BEFORE STACK FAN FIRST TURNED ON, INSTALLERS VENTILATED BASEMENT.

  18. SUB-SLAB DEPRESSURIZATION FAN ON AND OFF; TWO WINDOWS OPENED 3”, CLOSED Feb 24 - March 2 BEDROOM RADON, pCi/L TURN FAN OFF TURN FAN ON OPEN CLOSE TIME, HOURS

  19. POPULATION-AVERAGED PUBLIC EXPOSURES TO IONIZING RADIATION (PIE: DOSE, = CANCER RISK EQUIVALENT RADON 54% IS DUE TO AVERAGE INDOOR RADON: 1.3 pCiL

  20. Conclusion • Radon can be dangerous • Testing is the only way to know if radon is present • If radon levels are high, mitigation will effectively reduce radon to levels <4 pC/L • Questions – Contact the Menasha Health Department (920) 967-3520 tdrew@ci.menasha.wi.us

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