World Health Organization lowers recommended action level for radon; goal is to reduce lung-cancer risk

Based on recently completed research, the World Health Organization is recommending that homeowners take action to remediate the radon level in their home if it exceeds 100 becquerels (Bq), which corresponds to 2.7 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).That's lower than the 4.0 pCi/L current action level in this country as recommended by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

The WHO also says that if this level can't be reached because of country-specific conditions, the action level should not exceed 300 Bq, or about 8 pCi/L. 

The WHO research, based on four years of work by 100 scientists from 30 countries, appears in the "WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon" (PDF).

The EPA has just learned of the WHO's recommendation, according to Tom Kelly, acting director of the EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. The EPA regularly reexamines its recommendations on radon and will take the WHO's advice into account but is not changing the level now. "The WHO does not say 2.7 is a safe level; there is no safe level. The EPA has said that homeowners should consider mitigation at levels of 2.0 pCi/L," says Kelly. "At levels of 4.0 pCi/L, homeowner should be very concerned. What's most important is that homeowners have their homes tested and that our message on radon is simple, clear, memorable, and actionable."
 
Radon, a radioactive gas, results from the natural decay of uranium that's present in most soils and can enter the home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. The WHO states that as many as 14 percent of lung-cancer cases in many countries, including the United States, are caused by exposure to radon. Smokers who live in a home with radon face an even higher lung-cancer risk.
 
Detecting radon is relatively simple and fixing the problem isn't difficult. However, as we found in our latest report on radon test kits, some kits underreported radon levels by almost 40 percent, so choosing the right one is crucial. Check out our ratings of radon test kits to find the most accurate, reliable models.

Long-term kits are more accurate because radon levels can vary from day to day. You should place the test kit(s) on the lowest occupied level of your home away from windows or vents.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Remember, radon levels can vary from one house to another in a neighborhood, so even if all surrounding homes are free of radon, you should have yours tested, especially important if you've done major structural renovations. To find a remediation contractor, contact your state radon office. Remediation will cost $800 to $2,500, depending on the radon-reduction system used and the characteristics of your home.

Q&A: When should I replace a carbon-monoxide alarm?

I've heard that carbon-monoxide alarms fail after seven years. Is that true?

Most carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms are backed by a five- to seven-year warranty, but they typically emit a chirping or signal when they're nearing the end of their useful life. This signal differs from the one that indicates a low battery. If there's a problem with the unit, a model with a digital display will show an error message, and one without a digital display might flash LEDs in a particular pattern.

Remember, the test button on a CO alarm checks only whether the alarm is working, not the sensor. To check the sensor, use a test kit that you can purchase at a local home center.

Essential information: Read our buyer's guide to CO and smoke alarms for more information on these important safety devices, and view a quick interactive to determine which alarms are best for your home. We've also got a report on an intriguing study on the effectiveness of a voice recordings versus more traditional loud tone alarms in awakening children.

Q&A: How can I lower the level of radon in my home?

Long-term radon testing revealed that the radon level near our countertops is very low but the level in the basement is 3.6 picocuries per liter. Should I do anything to remediate the problem?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and your risk of lung cancer is especially high if you smoke and your the radon level in your home is elevated.

The EPA recommends remediating radon when the indoor-air level of radon is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. The EPA also says that radon levels below that can still pose a health risk and recommends that you consider remediation when the level is above 2 and under 4 pCi/L. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L, and for outside air its about 0.4 pCi/L.

Radon, a radioactive gas, results from the natural decay of uranium that's present in most soils and can enter the home through cracks and holes in the foundation. The radon level of your neighbors' homes isn't an indicator of the level in your home since levels can vary widely property by property. Read our report on radon test kits, which includes buying advice and ratings of short-term and long-term kits.

You can temporarily reduce radon levels by increasing ventilation—opening windows, doors, and vents in your basement. But once they're closed, the radon level usually returns to its previous level within about 12 hours. The EPA suggests hiring a qualified radon contractor to fix the problem. We advise against taking on this work on your own since you might increase the radon level or stir up other problems.

To find a certified radon-remediation contractor, consult the EPA's list of radon contact information for each state or the National Environmental Health Association or the National Radon Safety Board. Remediation will cost $800 to $2,500, depending on the radon-reduction system used and the characteristics of your home.

For advice on selecting a contractor, use this information from the EPA. Be sure to get several bids and check references.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Learn more about the issue of radon and granite countertops in our latest report on countertops and in this blog entry.

What's on your mind: Our most popular blog posts of 2008

Before we get too far into 2009, we thought we'd look back at the most popular posts on the Home & Garden blog from 2008. The 10 blogs below generated the most buzz last year.

Inside CR Test Labs: Sewing machines
This sneak peak at our March 2009 report on sewing machines (shown) generated quite a thread in the comment box. Around 150 readers chimed in, including the commenter who implored, "please don't lump in embroidery machines with general sewing machines." Roger that, as you'll see in the full report, coming in the upcoming story, whose issue is on sale and online in February.

Own a tankless water heater? Take our survey
Some 1,200 readers answered that call (another 100 commented directly to the item). The results of the online survey informed our October 2008 report on tankless water heaters, in which we revealed significant variations in installation costs, energy savings, and overall satisfaction.

Mold can be a problem for some front-loading washers
Here, we reported on the buildup of mold that many readers told us was occurring in the rubber gasket of the door to their front-loading washer. Sixty commenters jumped into the issue, some supporting the claim with tales of foul-smelling clothes, others reporting no complaints with their front-loading washing machine.

Why Consumer Reports doesn't rate specific models of mattresses
Not everyone rested easy with our explanation of why we don't rate mattress models. Wrote one commenter: "I subscribed to CR specifically for a mattress report and instead get a report on why you don't do a mattress report." Visit our new mattress product page for more details on mattress shopping.

Buying Advice: Portable air conditioners
Cooling the air was obviously hot on readers' minds when this blog posted on June 20. Our take on portable air conditioners is lukewarm at best—not only do they deliver less relief than manufacturers claim but the units also tend to be pricey.

Greener cleaners go mainstream
The launch of a line of natural cleaners from Clorox prompted this March 24 post.

Buyer's guide to pellet- and wood-burning stoves
Surging home-heating costs in recent years has fueled interest in alternative ways to keep warm during the winter. Hence the flurry of comments to this buying guide. In fact, there's been so much interest that we're now planning a testing-based report on these products.

Buzzword: Radon
Of all our 2008 Buzzwords, none resulted in as many comments as this entry on radon. Several weeks later, The New York Times ran a story covering concerns about radon in countertops, raising the buzz again.

Tip of the Day: Don't get ripped off by an alarm company
Dozens of readers responded to this blog with their own experiences with alarm companies, crooked and credible alike. One unlucky homeowner tells how she was swindled out of $360.

Are EdenPure space heaters just a lot of hot air?
That question spurred significant interest from readers. Some defended their EdenPure space heater, others didn't recommend these appliances. Read our report on space heaters for more information.—Daniel DiClerico

Tip of the Day: Use a lead test kit to identify problems at your home

Lead paint is an obvious health risk and could even impact a pending home sale. If you are concerned about lead paint, buying a lead-paint test kit ($8 to $30) could be a good start.

A while back, Consumer Reports Senior Editor Ed Perratore had his circa-1950 Cape Cod home checked for lead by a certified lead-paint inspector, who used an x-ray fluorescence device to detect lead under multiple coats of paint.

Deborah Wallace, a senior project leader in our Technical Division, then marked the spots where the inspector detected lead levels exceeding 1.0 milligram per square centimeter, the level at which the federal government requires abatement in public housing. Later, under Wallace's supervision, Perratore tried seven home test kits on those spots and rated the instructions of each kit and how easy the kits were to use.

Every kit indicated lead was present at the marked spots. We then tested the kits in our laboratories by adding lead to latex paint and applying it to glass substrates. All of the kits successfully detected the lead; the video (right) shows which ones best combined accuracy with ease of use. For more details, read our September 2008 ratings-based report, which also includes coverage of radon test kits. (Ratings of lead test kits and radon tests kits are available to subscribers.)

Perratore was happy to learn that lead paint was only in limited areas of his home, even though his house was built 28 years before the federal government banned lead paint in 1978. "As it all turned out, only three exterior doors and their frames tested positive, and we want to replace them anyway," Perratore notes, adding that a basement stairway also tested positive, something he can easily stabilize. Everywhere else tested negative, including the bedrooms, the windowsills, the closets, and the playroom where his kids played for years.

"My kids have made it well into their teen years with no harmful effects from lead," he notes.—Gian Trotta

Essential information: If the results you get from a lead test kit indicate action levels inside or outside your home, get a quantitative analysis by hiring a certified lead-hazard assessor to determine the extent of the problem or sending samples to a certified lab. For more information, visit this page at the EPA Web site. And learn more ways to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, especially during projects at your home.

Buzzword: XRF

What it means. XRF is not the name of hipster rock band or a new "miracle" diet pill. Rather, this abbreviation stands for x-ray fluorescence, a technique used to detect the presence of elements like lead, cadmium, and arsenic in toys, paints, and other consumer products. If an element is present in a product, an XRF analyzer stirs it up with x-rays and measures the fluorescence activity to determine its relative level. XRF also has industrial and environmental uses.

Why the buzz? As we reported in the December 2007 issue of Consumer Reports and as you might have read in news stories over the last year, a rising number of consumer goods have been found to contain dangerous levels of lead. X-ray fluorescence has become a part of the efforts to get these hazardous products off the market. Armed with XRF analyzers, public-health officials, advocacy groups, and responsible manufacturers are able to rapidly screen goods for lead and other harmful elements.

XRF machines like the model shown are pricey, costing upward of $35,000, so you won't find them at a nearby home center. But you can hire a lead professional to perform an XRF test on paint and soil in and around your home. Note that homes built before 1978, when lead paint was banned, are very likely to harbor lead somewhere, sometimes buried, in the walls, woodwork or soil and exterior siding. To find a testing company in your area, go to www.epa.gov/lead (click on "lead professionals") or call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-5323.

With all the news about lead in toys and other products, the market for home lead-test kits is growing. Home-use lead test kits, while far more limited than XRF, are another way you can find sources of lead in your home. These kits detect only surface, or accessible, lead, not lead embedded below the surface. For more information, read our September 2008 review of lead and radon test kits. (Note that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises against using these kits for the screening of toys, jewelry, and other consumer products.)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the EPA have found that lead test kits can be effective in identifying lead paint when used correctly. Although, as our tests confirmed, they don't measure the levels of lead present, which, in some cases could be below the federal standards in some positive tests.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Read this post from the Consumer Reports Safety blog about Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at Ashland University who's been instrumental in raising public awareness about consumer products with high lead levels. And learn how to deal with lead paint in your home.

Radon in countertops question stays in the news

Do granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radon? That question continues to get attention, as evidenced by a front-page story in the Home section of the July 24, 2008, edition of The New York Times. “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” the headline inquires ominously in the story by Kate Murphy.

We reported on this very subject last month in Buzzword: Radon, which noted that there’s not much evidence that granite countertops release harmful amounts of this potentially dangerous gas into homes. Radon remains the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country.

We recently tested 11 do-it-yourself radon test kits. Look for our report and ratings of these kits in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in early August.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Learn how to deal with radon.

Buzzword: Radon

What it means. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that results from the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. The gas moves up from the ground and can diffuse into the air or enter a home, typically through cracks and holes in the foundation or concrete slab. (Radon can also enter the home through well water and by way of some building materials). The presence of radon in the home can pose a danger to your health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country.

Why the buzz? Radon has been in the news recently with reports that some granite countertops can release dangerous levels of radon. This isn't a new claim—it surfaced in the 1990s—and it's fairly controversial. In April 2008, BuildClean, a nonprofit that aims to educate consumers about safe and healthy building materials, made news when it announced that its pilot project would provide free in-home radon testing of 300 homes in Houston to determine whether granite countertops emit harmful levels of radon. It's worth noting that two big makers of quartz countertops, Cambria and Cosentino (which also sells granite counters), are the sole funders of BuildClean. "By its nature, granite emits radon—the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.," said Sara Speer Selber, BuildClean's president, in a press release at the time.

Next, in early May, W.J. Llope, Ph.D., a senior faculty fellow at the T.W. Bonner Nuclear Laboratory at Rice University in Houston, released a report in which he analyzed 18 articles covering 95 granite samples. In "Radiation and Radon from Natural Stone" (PDF download), Llope reported that 92 of the granite samples emitted no or very little radon, though two were in the 3.1-to-3.4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) range, and one registered 4.2. (These measurements assume a hypothetical unventilated room, not a standard home, according to Llope's study.) The EPA estimates that the average indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L and suggests that you reduce radon when the level in your home is 4 pCi/L or higher.

Dealing with the dangers of radon gas

January is National Radon Action Month. If you’re unsure whether your home has a high level of radon, it's time to find out if your house is among the estimated 1 in 15 with a dangerous level of the cancer-causing radioactive gas, which is estimated to claim 21,000 lives a year in this country.

"We know that radon-related deaths can be prevented," says EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh. "No one has to live in a home with high radon levels because virtually any home with a radon problem can be fixed. Our hope is that once people understand this health risk, they will test their homes for radon and fix any problems they find."

There is no national requirement to test for radon, and the gas is found in every state, though the potential for high levels is greater in some locations (the EPA radon zone map is shown) particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Check with your state radon office to learn about state-specific regulations and to find certified radon-testing and radon-mitigation companies.

What Is Radon?
You can't smell or see radon. It's an odorless, colorless gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. A study published in 2005 in the journal Epidemiology concluded your chance of getting lung cancer increases by 11 percent to 21 percent at average radon concentrations of about 3.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air over an exposure period of 5 to 30 years. The EPA recommends radon mitigation at 4.0 pCi/L. And if you're a smoker, the presence of radon in your home will considerably increase your chance of getting lung cancer.

The presence of radon doesn't mean your home was built over an atomic-waste dump. Its origins are natural—from the breakdown of uranium found in almost all soil. The gas finds its way into a home through such paths as cracks and other holes in the foundation.

Home Testing
While you might have had your home tested for radon when you purchased it, research indicates as many as 80 percent of American homes still need to be tested, according to the EPA and the Surgeon General's Office. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, recommends not waiting for a home sale to check for the gas. If a test already has been completed, it is not necessary to repeat the test, unless you've fundamentally changed your home in a way that could allow more radon to enter the structure. Those changes include adding new windows and doors, modifying your heating or cooling system, adding or changing exhaust systems or any other element that could change the pressure and ventilation characteristics of the house, and building an addition.

Home test kits that measure the level of radon typically cost less than $20. In many locations, you can get discounted kits through your state or county health department or environmental-affairs department. The New York State Department of Health, for example, offers residents a kit for $6.75 and will provide a free kit within a year to any resident who has already had work done by a mitigation contractor and wants to verify that the radon level is low.

Short-term testing takes 2 to 7 days; long-term testing runs for 90 days, giving a more accurate picture of the year-round level. About all you have to do is place a sampling container in the lowest occupied level of your home, typically the basement. Seal the container immediately after the specified test period and send it to the laboratory marked on the package.

After the test is processed, sometimes in just a few days, you’ll receive a report by mail or e-mail or through a Web site that will show the measure of gas detected. You should perform a short-term or long-term follow-up test if the reading is more than 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). (Sometimes the test results show "Working Levels," or WL. The threshold of 4.0 pCi/L corresponds to 0.016 WL.)

If the radon level is high, you can hire a certified radon-remediation contractor. Find one through your state radon office or through these private organizations: the National Environmental Health Association and the National Radon Safety Board. Expect to pay about $800 to $2,500, with an average bill about $1,200.

Contractors will reduce the level of gas in your home by:
• Installing a suction system to draw the gas out of and away from the home
• Changing the ventilation and pressurization in the basement
• Sealing foundation cracks and openings

If you live in an area with a cold climate, it's best to test during the winter months, when windows are closed, limiting air exchange. The low pressure created by a chimney or other ventilation device can draw soil gases into the home near the foundation.

Essential information: To learn about other indoor-air-quality issues, read our report Indoor Air Quality: How Clean is the Air in Your Home? And watch this public-service announcement from the EPA.