Radon Testing

1. Migration (up from the soil) into the house air through cracks and/or other openings in the foundation.
2. Release of dissolved radon gas into the air from water usage in the home.

In New England’s, the migration of radon up from the soil contributes the largest percent of radon found in the average home. Radon from a groundwater type water supply source, particularly a bedrock (artesian, drilled) well, contributes the next largest percentage of radon in the home. The US EPA has set an advisory "action level" of 4 pCi/L for radon gas in indoor air. While not a mandated health standard, this level is a guideline for people to use in assessing the seriousness of their exposure to airborne radon. Studies show that high levels of radon gas in the air increase the risk of developing lung cancer. At present there is no federal or state regulated standard for radon in drinking water. In 1991, the New England’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the New England’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) jointly recommended a maximum level for radon gas in PUBLIC drinking water at 2,000 pCi/L. Although this recommendation was never acted upon by any regulatory agency, it is commonly referred to in New England’s. The EPA is currently proposing a limit of 4000 pCi/L. Massachusetts recommends 10,000, Vermont 5000, and Maine 4,000 pCi/L. A useful equation developed by the EPA to determine the seriousness of Radon in water is that 1 pCi/L of Radon will develop in the air for every 10,000 pCi/L in the water. This is especially useful for adding the total radon found in both air & water.