Granite....radon

[jimbo]

Has anyone been reading about this issue? My daughter decided to buy one of those test kits, and sent in to the lab for results. It came back with 3 pico-curies. The lab danced, and basically said that is not high enough to panic and too high to just ignore. But doesn't say WHAT to do.

We are in an area where naturally occuring radon from the ground is basically not existent, so we assume these numbers are the off-gassing from the granite.


There seems to be a ton of info on this on the internet, but I have not come across an authoritative source which will say whether this off-gassing from the granite is something which is worrisome, like the stuff that comes up from under the house.

[statjunk]

Nowadays everything will kill you. You can't even eat a damn chicken anymore.

Tom

[Cass]

My dad is fairly well versed in this...I will ask him later today and report back.

[99k]

Has anyone been reading about this issue? My daughter decided to buy one of those test kits, and sent in to the lab for results. It came back with 3 pico-curies. The lab danced, and basically said that is not high enough to panic and too high to just ignore. But doesn't say WHAT to do.

We are in an area where naturally occuring radon from the ground is basically not existent, so we assume these numbers are the off-gassing from the granite.


There seems to be a ton of info on this on the internet, but I have not come across an authoritative source which will say whether this off-gassing from the granite is something which is worrisome, like the stuff that comes up from under the house.

I am very familar with this problem. I just tested someones house yesterday ... their well water, basement air, upstairs air, and geiger counter of the granite. Tests have determined that an average countertop will contribute about .13 pCi/L to a house average when the threshold action level is set at 4 pCi/L. Does she have a basement or does she live on a slab? Does she have city water or well?

[Cass]

jimbo, how many days long was the test, what room was the sample taken from, the house windows should have been closed, AC being on may cause it (the reading) to be lower. With max of 4 pci/l if it was a 1 day test that could be a false negative or positive. 1 day tests are not good and conditions in the home should simulate winter conditions during testing...every thing being closed up.

Does any one in the home smoke in the house? Smoking exacerbates radon.

The test should be done in the room where they spend most of their time which is normally where the TV is.

[99k]

jimbo, how many days long was the test, what room was the sample taken from, the house windows should have been closed, AC being on may cause it (the reading) to be lower. With max of 4 pci/l if it was a 1 day test that could be a false negative or positive. 1 day tests are not good and conditions in the home should simulate winter conditions during testing...every thing being closed up.

Does any one in the home smoke in the house? Smoking and radon together is worse than either one alone.

Having the A/C on is perfectly fine as long as you are recirculating the air and not introducing new air. As far as the location, please confirm the kit WAS NOT ON THE GRANITE. Should be 20" off floor, 3' from an outside door or window, and 12" from an outside, 4" from other objects.

[hj]

radon testing is like going to the optometrist. According to them EVERYONE needs glasses and everyone has a Radon problem.

[99k]

radon testing is like going to the optometrist. According to them EVERYONE needs glasses and everyone has a Radon problem.

The only problem I have with that statement is that approximately 22,000 die each year from radon induced lung cancer ... when I loose my reading glasses I just need to stretch my arms