Anyone know about this? - InspectionNews

wayne soper · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 04:27 PM

World Health Organization (WHO) Sets Radon Action Level of 2.7 - Less Lung Cancer Risk Than EPA 4.0

There are some happy mitigation companies out there today.

Bruce Breedlove · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 05:16 PM

Yes. This was announced at the AARST conference a couple of weeks ago in St Louis.

Basically, WHO is acknowledging that low levels of radon pose a health risk. This does not change the current EPA Action Level of 4.0 pCi/L.

WHO's new Action Level should be food for thought for Realtors who pooh pooh those slightly elevated radon measurements. Next time you hear an agent tell the buyer, "I wouldn't worry about a radon measurement of 5.4. It's not that much above 4." you can point out to her that WHO set their Action Level at 2.7 pCi/L.

By the way, there is another thread on this topic.

wayne soper · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 05:17 PM

Thanks Bruce!!

Cary Seidner · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 04:33 PM

The whole "Radon Action Level" thing is a bunch of malarkey, IMO. Can the EPA or WHO tell you how many cigarettes you can smoke/day? Other than politics, why wouldn't the "Action Level" be .01 or less?

Bruce Breedlove · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cary Seidner

The whole "Radon Action Level" thing is a bunch of malarkey, IMO. Can the EPA or WHO tell you how many cigarettes you can smoke/day?

I know I'll never convince you (and that's not what I'm trying to do) but I'll say this anyway.

EPA does not mandate what radon levels are in homes. They recommend a maximum level via their Action Level. You can heed it or not. It's your choice to live with high levels of radon if you wish.

As far as I know EPA does not have an "Action Level" on cigarettes. Even if they did you can smoke as many cigarettes as you wish. Knock yourself out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cary Seidner

Other than politics, why wouldn't the "Action Level" be .01 or less?

The average radon concentration in outdoor air is 0.4 pCi/L. It would make no sense to attempt to reduce radon concentrations in homes below the ambient concentration.

EPA says no level of radon is completely safe. (In other words, there is risk at any concentration.) What level of radon are you comfortable living with? 4.0 pCi/L? 1.4 pCi/L? 14 pCi/L? 60 pCi/L? 400 pCi/L? How many cigarettes do you think a person can smoke before it starts to affect their health? 1? 10? 20? 60? 150?

EPA established their Radon Action Level so the public has a guideline to go by. Without the Action Level no one would know how to interpret their radon test results. With the EPA Action Level at least they have a number to compare to.

WHO now says they recommend an Action Level lower than EPA's Action Level. The reason is that WHO says a significant number of lung cancer deaths are due to radon concentrations of less than 4.0 pCi/L.

I don't know about you but I think the less radiation my lungs are exposed to the better.

Cary Seidner · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Breedlove

I know I'll never convince you (and that's not what I'm trying to do) but I'll say this anyway.

EPA does not mandate what radon levels are in homes. They recommend a maximum level via their Action Level. You can heed it or not. It's your choice to live with high levels of radon if you wish.

As far as I know EPA does not have an "Action Level" on cigarettes. Even if they did you can smoke as many cigarettes as you wish. Knock yourself out.

The average radon concentration in outdoor air is 0.4 pCi/L. It would make no sense to attempt to reduce radon concentrations in homes below the ambient concentration.

EPA says no level of radon is completely safe. (In other words, there is risk at any concentration.) What level of radon are you comfortable living with? 4.0 pCi/L? 1.4 pCi/L? 14 pCi/L? 60 pCi/L? 400 pCi/L? How many cigarettes do you think a person can smoke before it starts to affect their health? 1? 10? 20? 60? 150?

EPA established their Radon Action Level so the public has a guideline to go by. Without the Action Level no one would know how to interpret their radon test results. With the EPA Action Level at least they have a number to compare to.

WHO now says they recommend an Action Level lower than EPA's Action Level. The reason is that WHO says a significant number of lung cancer deaths are due to radon concentrations of less than 4.0 pCi/L.

I don't know about you but I think the less radiation my lungs are exposed to the better.

Bruce,

I think you may have misunderstood me. I (currently) believe that everyone should install a radon mitigation system in there home, regardless of the level. If it is .4 pCi/L, then lower it some more. The lower the better!

Why would it not make sense to lower it below the ambient outdoor concentration.

Bruce Breedlove · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cary Seidner

Why would it not make sense to lower it below the ambient outdoor concentration.

Do a cost/benefit analysis on that and get back to me.

Cary Seidner · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Breedlove

Do a cost/benefit analysis on that and get back to me.

The cost part is easy. The benefit part, you can get back to me on.

Erby Crofutt · #9 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 08:12 AM

The EPA's website at: Health Risks | Radon | US EPA , states:

"The average radon concentration in the indoor air of America's homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. It is upon this level that EPA based its estimate of 20,000 radon-related lung cancers a year upon. It is for this simple reason that EPA recommends that Americans consider fixing their homes when the radon level is between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. "

"Unfortunately, many Americans presume that because the action level is 4 pCi/L, a radon level of less than 4 pCi/L is "safe". This perception is altogether too common in the residential real estate market. In managing any risk, we should be concerned with the greatest risk. For most Americans, their greatest exposure to radon is in their homes; especially in rooms that are below grade (e.g., basements), rooms that are in contact with the ground and those rooms immediately above them."

The EPA's " Home Buyer's & Seller's Guide to Radon" states

"Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and, in many cases, may be reduced."

"Short-term tests can be used to decide whether to reduce the home's high radon levels. However, the closer the short-term testing result is to 4 pCi/L, the less certainty there is about whether the home's year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk and that radon levels can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below in most homes."

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