RADON GAS TESTING IN LOS ANGELES, LA COUNTY, VENTURA

For radon gas testing, Affordable Inspection Services Inc. is very experienced and responsive. Radon is such a serious threat to health that bringing in a professional right away is important. As Los Angeles residents we have our share of radon gas problems. Radon gas testing is vital for this hard-to-detect gas leaking into your home, office, commercial and apartment buildings. Our radon gas testing equipment is state-of-the-art and we can be on site anywhere quickly. Radon gas testing often needs follow up testing after a mitigation system has been installed. Our follow up tests are affordable and timely.

Affordable Inspection Services, Inc. has two State Certified Radon Testers and is an active Member of the National Environmental Health Association (“NEHA”), the National Radon Safety Board (“NRSB”) and American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (“AARST”).

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET RESULTS?

Using the Sun Nuclear Radon Monitor the results for the short term test are provided to the client immediately at the conclusion of the test followed by a written report the next business day.  This type of device is best for real estate transactions and / or homeowners wanting quick results.  No waiting for lab results. 

For additional information on radon gas testing in Los Angeles County (LA, Ventura) and to schedule an appointment for a Radon Screening Test contact B.J. Rogers, Residential Measurement Provider ID #104083RT and State Certified Radon Tester at 818-773-9932 or 1-800-992-0378 in California.

FACTS ABOUT RADON

Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless and occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil and rocks.  Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds.  The average radon concentration in the indoor air of America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L with the average concentration of radon in the outdoor air 0.4 pCi/L. 

Radon becomes a risk indoors because as it continues to break down Radon and its decay products are inhaled and the decay products become lodged in the lungs where they can radiate the cells lining the respiratory system. Exposure to elevated levels of radon greatly enhances the risk of lung cancer. Even small exposures to radon can result in increased cancer risk. Smoking combined with radon poses a very serious risk. The effect of radon among smokers is about 9 times higher than in non-smokers. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.  In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. 

The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested for radon.  High levels of radon have been found in every state in the US. One in fifteen homes in the US have radon levels above 4 picocuries per liter (4pCi/L), the EPA action level.

SOURCES OF RADON IN THE HOME

Radon gas can enter a home from the soil under the house by process of diffusion through concrete floors and walls, and through cracks in the concrete slab, floors, or walls and through floor drains, sump pumps, construction joints and cracks or pores in hollow-block walls. Normal pressure differences between the house and the soil can create a slight vacuum, which can draw radon from the soil into the building. The design, construction and ventilation of the home can affect the radon levels of the home.

Well water can be another source of indoor radon. Radon released by well water during showering or other activities may release radon gas into the home. Radon in water is a much smaller factor in radon exposure than radon in soil.

Radon exposure outdoors is much less of a risk than indoors because the radon is diluted to low concentrations by the large volume of air.

TYPES OF TESTS

There are two categories of radon in air tests: Short Term Tests and Long Term Tests.

Short term tests measure radon levels for exposure periods of 2 days to 90 days, depending on the device. Short term radon testing is extremely useful when you need results quickly such as during a real estate transaction. EPA has established guidelines that must be followed by the occupant of the home to successfully perform the short term radon screening test as follows: 

• Closed house conditions must be maintained for a total of 60 hours beginning 12 hours before start of the test and maintained throughout the test period (typically 48 hours). 
• Closed-house conditions means keeping all windows closed, keeping doors closed except for normal entry and exit, and not operating fans or other machines which bring in air from the outside.
• Occupant should operate the home’s heating and cooling systems normally during the test. 
• Do not operate:
• Evaporative (Swamp coolers)
• Window fans
• Whole House fans (attic fans)
• Fireplaces

Type of Device Used for Short Term Radon Test:  Affordable Inspection Services, Inc. uses a Sun Nuclear, Model 1027 Professional Continuous Radon Monitor for residential homes.  This device has been evaluated and accepted by the US Environmental Protection Act for short term testing.  The advantage to using this device is that at the end of the testing period, the results are printed out and the client is informed of the results of the short term radon screening test at that time followed with the written report and recommendations prepared the next business day.   

Long term Radon Screening test measures radon levels for 91 days to one year. These tests give results which are more likely to reflect the seasonal or year round average radon level of the home.

Type of Device Used for Long Term Radon Test:  Affordable Inspection Services, Inc., uses an alpha tract detector device to measure long term radon concentration levels in the home.  This long term radon monitoring device is placed in the home for a minimum of 91 days to up to one year and closed house conditions are not required for the long term devise.  The home is occupied under normal living conditions. 

Upon retrieval, the long term radon monitoring device is sent to an accredited laboratory for processing.  It takes approximately 5 – 7 business days for the accredited laboratory to process and provide the results to Affordable Inspection Services, Inc.  Upon receipt of the results of the long term radon test from the laboratory, Affordable Inspection Services, Inc. will contact the client and provide the verbal results of the long term radon screening test that will be followed up by a written report and recommendations the next business day.        

WHAT TO DO IF RADON LEVELS ARE HIGH

Now that you have tested your home for radon gas and confirmed that you have elevated radon levels — 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends that you take action to reduce your home's radon levels if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher. High radon levels can be reduced through mitigation.  

HOW TO FIX YOUR HOME

For radon gas problems, a proper mitigation system should be installed.  In most cases, a system with a vent pipe(s) and fan(s) is used to reduce radon.  These “sub-slab depressurization” systems do not require major changes to your home.  Similar systems can also be installed in homes with crawl spaces.  These systems prevent radon gas from entering the home from below the concrete floor and from outside the foundation.  EPA does not recommend the use of sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation alone as it has not shown to lower radon levels significantly or consistently.  Radon mitigation contractors may use other methods that may also work in your home.  The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.

EPA recommends in its “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction” the use of EPA Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) - State-listed mitigation contractors to perform the work.  The list of licensed mitigation contractors are listed on the state website. 

You should also test the home again after mitigation to be sure that radon levels have been reduced. 

EPA MAP OF RADON ZONES – CALIFORNIA

The purpose of the map below is to assist National, State, and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones.

The Map was developed using five factors to determine radon potential: indoor radon measurements; geology; aerial radioactivity; soil permeability; and, foundation type. Radon potential assessment is based on geologic provinces. Radon Index Matrix is the quantitative assessment of radon potential. Confidence Index Matrix shows the quantity and quality of the data used to assess radon potential. Geologic Provinces were adapted to county boundaries for the Map of Radon Zones.

Below is a map identifying the three radon zones located in California. 

Important points to note:

• All homes should be tested for radon, regardless of geographic location or zone designation.
  
• There are many thousands of individual homes with elevated radon levels in Zone 2 and 3.
  
• All users of the map should carefully review the map documentation for information on within-county variations in radon potential and supplement the map with locally available information before making any decisions.
  
• The map is not to be used in lieu of testing during real estate transactions.
  
  

	Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones)	Highest Potential
	Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)	Moderate Potential
	Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)	Low Potential

USEFUL LINKS

• http://www.nrsb.org
  
• http://www.neha-nrpp.org
  
• http://www.epa.gov/radon
  
• http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/environhealth/Pages/Radon.aspx
  
• http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/index.html