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HHT Presentation: Radon
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Transcript of HHT Presentation: Radon
Radon in Maine
Eric Frohmberg
Maine Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
Radon
• Why do we care about radon?
• What should I do?
• What does MeCDC have to offer?
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
Radon in Maine
50%Of Maine homes
may have indoor air levels of radon above 2 pCi/L
33%Of Maine homes report
that they have tested their
indoor air for radon
How bad is radon?
less cancer risk more
MTBE
3 in a million
PERC
5 in a million
Chlordane
70 in a million
Radon in Water
3 in a thousand
Radon in Air
2 pCi/L
1 in a hundred
to
1 in a thousand
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
What is Radon?
Uranium-238
Radium-226
Radon - 222
Radon -222
Quick Decay – releasing radiation
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
How Radon Enters a Home
Through the foundation
Through the well
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
How do I find out if radon is in my house?
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
Where can I get a test kit?If you are testing a home as part of a housing transaction ….
- the test must be performed by a certified radon tester
- the sample must be analyzed by a certified testing laboratory
(see www.maineradiationcontrol.org for a list)
Required by the Maine Radon Registration Act
A homeowner can test their own home unless it is during a real estate transaction
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
Radon and rental units
Need to test (registered tester) by 2012 and each 10 years after that.
Need to abate if above 4 pCi/L (use registered mitigator)
Need to tell tenants of the results
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
Notes on Testing Water
-Water contributes to air
-Testing water is tricky –-levels can fluctuate, -the act of testing can reduce the level in the water.
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
What do I do?
DO NOT automatically treat above 2 pCi/L.
• Between 2- 4 in air, call. • High levels, obviously treat.
DO NOT automatically treat above 4,000 pCi/L in well water.
• Need BOTH air and water measures
• Between 4,000-10,000 in water, call. • High levels, obviously treat.
To Summarize:
Radon causes lung cancer
It is common in Maine
EVERYONE need to test
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention • Environmental & Occupational Health Program
QUESTIONS
Radon Program: 1-800-232-0842http://www.maineradiationcontrol.orgEmail: [email protected]
Well Water: 1-866-292-3474http://wellwater.maine.govEmail: [email protected]