WHO lowers radon level recommendations; 'U' expert helps

Chances are many of homeowners who've been holding off on firing up the furnace, finally broke down and turned on the heat this morning. And with that heat can come radon, an invisible, poisonous gas that seeps through foundations and into living spaces.

While we hear more about carbon monoxide poisoning, radon is said to be responsible for approximately 20,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone. A University of Minnesota radon expert is trying to reduce that number by helping to set tighter world testing standards.

Bill Angell, professor of housing at the U of M, is one of the authors of new recommendations by the World Health Organization, which reduced acceptable levels of radon in a home by one-third.

"What we have found through the new studies that have been done in the global community is that the risk of radon is more serious than we have believed before," Angell says.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. At one time, four in ten Minnesota homes had high radon levels. Now, according to new WHO recommendations, that number has jumped to six in ten. That means six out of every ten homes should take action to reduce radon.

"The U.S. action level is expressed in picocuries per liter which is a measurement of radiation," Angell says. "And our standard has been 4 picocuries per liter. The WHO recommendation drops that down to 2.7."

The new recommendations increase the number of homes needing radon control systems in Minnesota by 400,000. Companies like Quality Radon Services and Modern Air Solutions install systems that remove the radon gas that can seep through your basement into your home.

"We create a system customized for every home that creates a negative pressure a vacuum under the slab, says Brad Nyberg, who owns both companies. "So really we pull the gas out of the ground and then it's pumped to a discharge point above the roofline."

How do you know if your home has high radon levels? There are a number of test kits on the market. And if you've already had your home tested, you'll want to test it again. Angell says the World Health Organization is also now recommending homes be tested every 5 years.

"Radon levels can change over time so you need to monitor that," he says.

Minnesota is the first state to pass a building requirement for radon control. As of June 1, 2009, all new homes must include a passive radon mitigation system. To have one installed in an existing home, the average cost is about $1400. There is a side benefit. Nyberg says such a system also reduces moisture.

Click here for more on radon from the Minnesota Department of Health.

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