Date Published: 03/22/2006 [Source]
Dan and Stacy Johnson of Barnum were caught completely off guard last February when they discovered deadly levels of radon in their home. According to a pamphlet from Health House, a company based out of St. Paul, the normal level for radon in a house is 1.3 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) and the outdoor average is .4 pCi/L. The indoor level that requires action is 4.0 pCi/L.
After the Johnson's first initial test, their level was 13. If that didn't scare Stacy Johnson enough, the results from their short-term and long-term tests were just even more shocking. The short-term test was scored an 18. The long-term test was an unbelievable 37.
And with good reason. According to the same pamphlet, "radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is produced by naturally decaying uranium and radium. Uranium and radium is typically found in soil and rock throughout the world... As radon decays, it forms radioactive byproducts called 'progeny,' 'decay products' or 'daughters' which can be inhaled and cause damage to lung tissue." The seriousness of the situation is what caused the Johnsons to take the next step. Unfortunately, it's a very costly step.
That unexpected expense was $1,500 to install a system known as sub-slab deprussization, where pipes and fans are used to remove radon gas from beneath the concrete floor and foundation before it can enter the home. The radon is then vented out above the roof, where it "safely disperses."