How to Collect a Radon in Water Sample

Radon in water poses both an inhalation risk and an ingestion risk. Research has shown that your lung cancer risk from breathing radon in air is much larger than your risk of stomach cancer from swallowing radon in water.

Most of your risk from radon in water comes from radon released into the air when water is used for showering and other household purposes. Radon in water is not usually a problem when your home's source is surface water.

A radon in water problem is more likely when its source is ground water, e.g. a private well or a public water supply system that uses ground water. You should use our WT-100 radon water kit if your water comes from a well.

Collecting a Radon in Water Sample
One method of collecting a radon water sample is to slowly fill a bowl or deep pan. Submerge the radon water collection vial and cap open side up until they fill. While the radon water sample vial is still submerged, screw the cap of the vial back on. The radon water sample should not contain any air bubbles or have any headspace. The radon water sample collection vial does not contain a preservative. If there are any air bubbles in the radon water sample, collect the sample again. Return the radon water sample to be received by the laboratory within four days.

You should use our WT-100 radon water kit to test for radon in your water.

Radon Test Equipment: Why Would I Want a Digital Radon Detector for My Home?

When most people think of a digital radon detector they tend to think of a piece of radon test equipment used by a measurement professional. This type of digital radon detector is typically used during a radon inspection that is being conducted as part of a home sale.

A professional grade digital radon detector, sometimes called a continuous radon monitor (CRM), usually has most of these features:

• The professional digital radon detector is capable of printing the test results out in a paper report type format.
  
• The digital radon detector is sensitive enough to print out accurate results on an hourly basis.
  
• The professional digital radon detector not only measures radon gas, but also measures other environmental conditions such as ambient temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity.
  
• Most professional radon test equipment will come into secular equilibrium within 2 to 4 hours. This is necessary because most real estate radon inspections only last for 2 days.

In general, a professional digital radon detector will cost at least $1000 and some will cost many thousands of dollars. A professional digital radon detector requires regular calibration.

You can find a digital radon detector for far less than that for your home or business at HomeRadonTest.com. Find out more about quality radon testing equipment and digital radon detectors

How to Perform A Do It Yourself Radon Test

Everyday many people purchase do-it-yourself radon testing kits from an online retailer of radon kits. The question is can you get accurate results with a do-it-yourself radon testing kit purchased from an online retailer of radon kits.

The answer is yes you can, if you order your do-it-yourself radon testing kit from a retailer of radon kits like Home Radon Test.Com (HRT).

You see anyone can take a do-it-yourself radon testing kit and throw it in a box and send it to you. But as a retailer of radon kits, Home Radon Test believes you need adequate information before you buy your do-it-yourself radon testing kits.

You need to know if you should choose short-term or long-term do-it-yourself radon testing kits. (Learn more about short-term and long-term do-it-yourself radon testing kits.)

Does Radon Sealer Really Work?

Should radon sealer be used to remediate an indoor radon problem?
The answer is: Maybe. It depends on how radon is entering the building and the kind of radon sealer you plan to use.

Radon sealer basically falls into 2 categories:

1. The most common radon sealers are urethane based caulks. Never use silicon caulk as a radon sealer.

2. The second category of radon sealer is the penetrating concrete sealer. This effectively seals the concrete from water vapor and significantly slows radon that may be diffusing through the concrete walls or floor.

So what does all this mean?
Can radon sealers be used to significantly lower indoor radon concentrations? US EPA says "Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction". However, EPA goes on further to say; "EPA does not recommend the use of sealing alone to reduce radon because, by itself, sealing has not been shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently".

To find out more about this subject, see how to properly seal off your home from radon gas and finding the best radon mitigation systems.

Your source for Radon Information...Who, What, Where, When & Why

Who is your best source for Radon Information?
HomeRadonTest.com provides a simple and easy starting point for radon information and testing. Learn all about radon .

What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that causes cancer. It is caused by the natural radioactive decay of radium in the ground.

What is an acceptable level of radon?
The US EPA has established the "action level" for deciding when you need to do something about radon. In your school, home or workplace, the action level is 4 pCi/l (picocuries per liter). Most states use the same level, but NJ uses 2 pCi/l. Many other countries use a level slightly less than 4 pCi/l.

What should I do if my radon level is high?
If you find a level higher than the EPA action level (4 pCi/l) you can install a radon mitigation system. The EPA says you should consider fixing your home if your level is between 2 and 4 pCi/l. A properly working mitigation system will effectively reduce your level.

Where should I test in my home?
Many people believe they only need to test in their basement (if they have one). Our radon information suggests that testing in the basement is generally a good idea. However, it is almost always a false assumption that you should only test in the basement. Generally, you should test in the lowest livable level in your home AND in rooms above basements, crawl spaces and slabs AND in rooms where you spend a significant amount of time (e.g., bedrooms). HomeRadonTest.com has developed a wizard to help you determine where you need to test. Radon testing information to see where you should test for radon in your home. You should have this radon information!

When should I test for radon?
You should test for radon when you first move into your home. Schools, institutions and workplaces should also be tested before they are occupied and regularly thereafter.

Why should I test?
Radon causes cancer. Without testing, you could be exposing you and your family to this deadly cancer causing substance simply because you didn't take the time to do a simple and easy to use test. HomeRadonTest.com offers a variety of tests. Use the radon test wizard to help you find the right test for you.

What Does The Radon Test Results Mean, Explaining What To Do After You Get The Results Back

Radon test results will be reported in units called picocuries per liter (pCi/l) if you live in the USA. Radon test results reports going outside the USA will be reported in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3).

US EPA says you should fix your home if your long term radon test results are 4 pCi/l or more. If your radon test results are over 2 pCi/l, EPA says you should still consider fixing your home. Regardless of your radon test results, you should try to reduce your exposure to any radiation (radon or otherwise) whenever possible.

When interpreting your radon test results, you need to remember that short-term radon test results are not as accurate as long-term radon test results. This can happen when your short-term radon test results are close to 4 pCi/l. For example, if the average of your short-term radon test results is 4.1 pCi/l, then there is about a 50% chance that your year-round (long-term) radon test results would be somewhat below 4 pCi/l.

However, most experts agree that any radon exposure carries some risk. There is no such thing as a "safe" radon level. The lower you can get your radon test result, the lower your risk of getting lung cancer.

See more on radon test results....

The Advantages of a Continuous Radon Monitor Test

Radon measurement devices fall broadly into 2 categories; passive or active radon monitors.

A passive radon monitor is generally small and light weight and does not require any power to operate. Passive radon monitors also need to be sent away for some sort of laboratory analysis. Some examples of passive monitors are charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers, and alpha track detectors. See more information on passive radon monitors.

A continuous radon monitor (CRM) is an active radon monitor. The continuous radon monitor is electronic and therefore requires some sort of power to operate. It can get its power either from a standard AC wall outlet or from batteries.

Find out the benefits and advantages of using a continuous radon monitor to safe protect your home or business.

Dana Reeve's tragic death has spurred on startling connection between women and lung cancer especially in non-smokers

Surprisingly, 20 percent of women diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers. After tobacco use, an odorless, radioactive gas called "radon" is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

What is radon, and how can you avoid it? The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency has been warning of this danger for some time and it is time for citizens to take heed. You'll find detailed radon information on HomeRadonTest.com plus maps indicating whether potential radon levels near your home are higher than average.

There are ways of protecting yourself and your family from this danger. You can get radon test kits to test for this odorless invisible gas. If you find a high radon level in your home or business you can combat it with a good radon mitigation system.

How to Measure Radon in a Home You Are Planning to Buy

If you are planning on buying a new home you should have it tested for radon gas as part of the sales agreement. Radon is a deadly radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. You can't see or smell it. The only way to know if a home has a radon gas problem is to test for it with special radon testing equipment. To learn more about the health risks of living in a home with high radon gas levels and steps to prevent it.

So Just How Dangerous is Radon Gas in Your Home

Radon is a Cancer Causing, Radioactive Gas

You've probably heard of the deadly radioactive gas called radon. You can't see radon. And you can't smell or taste radon. But radon gas could be a big problem in your home. The fact is radon kills about 21,000 Americans every year (based on EPA's 2003 Risk Assessment). That's more than drunk drivers, house fires or al Qaeda.

Home radon is definitely something you need to be concerned about. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Find out more about the hazards of radon in your home and how to test for radon .

Radon Testing in Schools

Protecting the Health of Children and Teachers

Chances are you've already heard of radon - a deadly radioactive gas that causes lung cancer.

But what you might not have heard is that high radon levels have been found in a number of schools across the country. Therefore, it is important that students, teachers, and parents be aware that a radon problem could potentially exist in their school.

An EPA nationwide survey of radon levels in schools estimates that nearly one in five has at least one classroom with a radon level above the 4 pCi/l (Pico-Curies per liter) action level - the level at which EPA recommends that schools take action to reduce occupant exposure. EPA estimates that more than seventy thousand (70,000) schoolrooms in use today have high radon levels.

Your child expects you to watch out for their safety - we can help!
You find out more information about:

• How Are Schools Radon Tested?
• School Radon Testing Strategies
• What happens if your school fails the radon test?
• How Many Radon Detectors Does Our School Need, to Do a Radon Screening Test?

Radon testing to protect your childs safety is now at your fingertips

Can radon harm me and my family?

YES!

The EPA has determined radon gas to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. (after the act of smoking). In fact, Dana Reeves the wife to Christopher Reeves from the Superman Movie fame just died recently from lung cancer that is suspected to have possibly been from radon poisoning.

Any house testing at or over 4 picocuries(pCi) per liter needs to be fixed per EPA recommendations. Pronounced: pee-coe-cure-ees Definition: Measurement of radioactivity. One picocurie is one million millionth, or a trillionth, of a curie and equals 0.037 becquerel, and represents about 2.2 radioactive particle disintegrations per minute.

The radioactive particles in the gas attach to your lung tissue and break down which can lead to cancer over the course of your lifetime. The amount of time between your exposure and the onset of cancer may be many years. If you have smoked, or are a smoker, you are at greater risk for developing lung cancer. Children tend to be at a higher risk for developing cancer as well.

Find out more on the health effects that radon gas can have on you and your family today