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If you got radon at 3.3 pCi/l in your best bedroom, in the newly remodeled basement, should you freak out?

We're not sure whether to freak out. We did the 72-hr tests in two locations, one in our gorgeous new basement bunker bedroom with high ceilings, and one in the computer/entertainment room next to it, both rooms now so gorgeous my wife heaves a sigh of adoration, or whatever... What? Oh yes, we got 3.3 and 3.2 and we don't know whether to freak out. We've never smoked, and to die of lung cancer would be a total embarrassment, nicht wahr?

Public Comments

  1. Just to be on the safe side, I'd freak out. I'd be running to all the neighbors, banging on their doors, yelling "Radon Radon!" Cause if you got it that bad, likely they do too. Cept they probly don't sleep in their basements like furtive politburo conspirators... Oh well whatever. Seriously though, you might consider freaking out.
  2. Check out this EPA guidance: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#results It looks like you might need to do some sort of ventilation. That was very smart of you to test your home, by the way..
  3. Radon risk is based on dose and length of exposure. A 3.2 could be significantly higher in mid winter when radon levels tend to peak. This occurs because of the frozen ground around the house and heated air rises in our homes thus some air replacement will be drawn up from cracks in the foundation. Add this to the fact your are sleeping in the basement and I would be concerned. The EPA does suggest fixing a home with levels between 2 and 4pCi/L since any amount of radon poses some risk of lung cancer.