hht presentation: radon
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Eric Frohmberg, Maine Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, on Radon in Maine at the Maine Asthma Coalition's Healthy Homes Training.TRANSCRIPT
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]