Article published in Northampton Living
(January 2021)

As we hunker down for a long winter, our efforts to maintain and improve our homes are directed indoors. But what about the area underneath your home? Deep in the granite and shale and phosphate-rich sediment that makes up the substrate of our region, there is uranium content to consider. When this radioactive element breaks down, one byproduct is the colorless, odorless gas, radon.

Radon gas escapes the fissures in rock and mineral deposits, and percolates through pores in the soil towards the surface where it can dissipate into the atmosphere. But, if there is a house in its path, radon gas naturally moves from the high pressure environment in the ground to the lower pressure disturbed zone below foundations and ultimately inside your home.

Alternatively, if radon is trapped in the water of a private well, gas can enter your home through aerators on interior fixtures and washing machines. Consistent exposure to concentrated levels of radon in homes can result in lung cancer, and accounts for upwards of 21,000 deaths annually according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Only smoking is responsible for more lung cancer deaths.

The good news is that radon exposure from the air and water in your home can be mitigated, and at a relatively low cost. To find out if there is a concern in your home, contact a certified radon professional to arrange a short-term test. In as little as 48 hours, you can learn the average air radon or radon in water concentration that is measured in picocuries (pCi). The average exposure to radon in air is measured as 0.4 pCi/L outside and 1.3 pCi/L inside. The EPA recommends mitigating homes when the short-term test reveals average radon in air levels at or above 4.0 pCi/L (or 10,000 pCi/L in water in MA).

And now is a great time to test. This is because radon concentrations can and do change seasonally and with weather changes. In winter, homes are more consistently sealed to the outside. Random rubble, brick, and concrete block foundations are susceptible to mortar damage during freezing temperatures, creating new paths for radon to enter. Groundwater is also frozen near grade, and snowfall “caps” the ability of radon gas to escape around your home making your house the path of least resistance. These conditions all contribute to elevated levels of radon in winter relative to other times of the year. So, I encourage all new homebuyers and homeowners who have modified their homes or tested in different seasons to consider testing for radon now. You spend about one-third of your life sleeping in your home, and knowing it is safe, or learning that you can make it safer, will help you sleep that much better.

More contributions from Eric Salus