Since the EPA has declared that the action level for radon is 4.0pCi/L, a lot of people assume this is a safe level of radon. In reality, the only SAFE level of radon gas is to have no radon. It’s a carcinogen, one that causes lung cancer. The US EPA says “Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon levels in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.”
This is their attitude because the average person is exposed to a higher dose of radiation from the radon levels in their home than from any of their other exposures combined, both natural & man-made. The more an individual is exposed to high levels of radon, the greater his or her chances of getting lung cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that radon exposure has become a growing public health threat in homes worldwide. It has urged countries to adopt action levels of 2.7 pCi/L. This is 1.3 pCi/L lower than what the EPA currently recommends.
Since the only truly safe level of radon is to have no radon gas, we must find a good balance for ourselves. Limiting our exposure in our homes is the best way to protect ourselves. We cannot completely remove radon from the atmosphere. It is naturally occurring, and is in the air outside. Just as we have to deal with exposing ourselves to ultraviolet rays when we walk & work outside, we have no choice but to breathe the air around us.
The best way to lower your risk is to have your home tested for radon. If the results come back with high levels, you can reduce your risks by having a radon reduction system installed, lowering your levels to both an acceptable level, as well as a safe level of radon.
