Did you know that radon can infiltrate buildings, especially through foundations? It can sometimes accumulate to concentrations that can pose a health risk. Since it is a gas that has no smell, taste or color, it is impossible to detect it through the senses.
Identify radon sources in a building
Radon concentrations are generally very low outdoors. Radon is rapidly diluted in ambient air and therefore does not cause any health problems. However, radon can enter the indoor air of buildings through various openings:
- clay floors;
- cracks in the concrete slab or foundation walls;
- the sumps;
- crawl spaces;
- the joints;
- openings around exhaust ducts and service inlets, such as pipe connections;
- taps, especially the one for the shower. Taps can be an entry route for radon from radon-rich groundwater. They can thus contribute to increasing the concentration of radon in the indoor air of a house.
Radon accumulates mainly in the lowest and least ventilated rooms in a building, such as a basement. The concentration of radon in the indoor air of a home can depend on several factors:
- the concentration of uranium and radon in the soil;
- the climate;
- ventilation of the premises;
- the waterproofing and insulation of the house;
- negative pressure, i.e. the fact that the air pressure inside the building is lower than outside. This pressure difference has the effect of transforming the house into a vacuum cleaner. Radon can then infiltrate through cracks and other entry points that are in contact with the ground.
The only way to know if there is radon in a home is to measure it. To measure the radon concentration in a home, a measuring device called a dosimeter must be used. It is recommended to take this measurement for a period of at least 3 months and to take the radon measurement during the winter. You can measure the radon concentration in your home yourself or use the services of a professional.
Do not rely on the results of tests done in a house next door to yours or in other homes in your neighborhood. Indeed, the radon concentration can vary greatly between houses, even if they are close to each other.