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New Maximum Level for Indoor Radon???

By
Real Estate Agent with Bean Group / Franklin

Has anyone heard this news yet?

'The World Health Organization announced that they have established a new limit for indoor radon gas. The new maximum radon level is 2.7. This is a 32% reduction from the previously accepted "action level" of 4.0.'

If you are still unsure of what RADON is, 'Radon is a radioactive gas that emanates from rocks and soils and tends to concentrate in enclosed spaces like underground mines or houses.' The fact that homes have become more insulated (a tighter envelope) is causing the gas to remain in the home and as a result, has been proven to increase the risk of lung cancer.

I checked to see if I could find more information on this and I was able to find the new World Health Organization Handbook and this WordPress post, which actually states that WHO recommends that the acceptable levels of indoor radon be reduced to 1/10th of what is currently considered acceptable. If this can not be achieved, then the minimum recommendation is below 300 becquerals per cubic meter.

I repeat... it is only a recommendation at this point.

So, what are your thoughts about this???

Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker®

Show All Comments
Jon Budish
Resident Realty - Fort Collins, CO

Frances, if those levels are adopted as the maximum, almost no homes will pass the test here in Colorado.

Oct 21, 2009 05:59 AM
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

Time to get into the radon mitigation business? Yikes! We will see a lot more mitigation systems required.

Oct 21, 2009 06:25 AM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Frances, WOW! this is big news. I am glad I stopped by. Very informative.

Oct 21, 2009 07:01 AM
Bruce Breedlove
Avalon Inspection Services - Colorado Springs, CO

WHO's recommendation does not affect the EPA Action Level of 4.0 pCi/L. The WHO recommendation of 100 Bq/m³ (becquerels per cubic meter) [the equivalent of about 2.7 pCi/L] is an acknowledgment that low and medium radon concentrations represent a substantial risk. (Think about that next time a radon test for your buyer comes back at 3.9 pCi/L.)

Several studies have shown that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. In absolute terms, radon causes more lung cancers in smokers and former smokers than in non-smokers due to the combined effects of smoking and radon. In many developing countries smoking is prevelant so lower residential radon exposure translates into fewer cases of radon-induced lung cancer in those smokers as well as non-smokers.

Oct 21, 2009 03:52 PM
Frances Sanderson
Bean Group / Franklin - Franklin, NH

Bruce... thank you for clarifying. Jon, Peggy and Janice's comments echo all of the comments I have been hearing from fellow agents in my office. I'll continue to monitor the situation and update this post when we hear more.

Oct 22, 2009 08:05 AM
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