INSIDE THIS ISSUE

 

Health Risk or Hype? Questions and Answers About Radon

By Environmental Protection Agency
 An excerpt from Building Radon Out, a Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant Homes, published by the U.S. EPA Office of Clean Air

 

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from uranium and radium in soils, which can be found everywhere in the world. Uranium is present in rocks such as granite, shale, phosphate and pitchblende. Uranium breaks down to radium, which then decays into radon. This gas can easily move up through the soil into the atmosphere. Natural deposits of uranium and radium, not man-made sources, produce most of the radon present in the air.
Radon is in the soil and air everywhere in varying amounts.  People cannot see, taste, feel or smell radon. There is no way to sense the presence of radon.

 

Radon levels are commonly expressed in Pico curies per liter of air (pCi/L), where a picocurie is a measure of radioactivity.

 

·   The national average of indoor radon levels in homes is about 1.3 pCi/L.

·   Radon levels outdoors, where radon is diluted, average about 0.4 pCi/L.

 

Radon in the soil can be drawn into a building and can accumulate to high levels. Every building or home has the potential for elevated levels of radon, even those built with radon-resistant features. EPA recommends taking action to reduce indoor radon levels when levels are 4 pCi/L or higher.        Continued on Page 2

 

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Health Risk or Hype?

Questions and Answers About Radon

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Tip of the Month

1

Ask Dave

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From Tamaria’s Kitchen

 

 

 

THE

BUILDING INSPECTOR

OF

CONNECTICUT

 

TIP OF THE MONTH

 

Got rug corners that won't stay put, that curl, lift up, and don't look so good?  When corners on area rugs start to curl and lift up off the floor (as they all seem to do), just pick up a peel-and-stick vinyl floor tile a foot square or more (the bigger the better.) With a pair of scissors or a utility knife, trim off each of the four corners to form four large triangles. Then peel off the backing and stick each one to the underside of the rug right where corners are curling up. The tile will straighten the unsightly curl, and the extra weight will help keep corners flat and in place right where they are!

 

1929 East Main Street #108

Torrington, CT  06790

 

1-860-496-4616

1-800-255-8383

 

www.building-inspections.com

 

      Ask

              Dave

 |||\\\\\

 

 

 

                   

 

 

                                                                Dave Muirhead—President

                                                                   Building Inspections, Inc.

 

Q: I want to avoid a future replacement of a septic system.  What preventive maintenance can you suggest?

 

 

 

A:  Your septic tank should be pumped out every 24 to 48 months, assuming average use.  Consider the following:

 

 

 

·    If no clean out is visible, one should be installed.

·     A septic system works best when you minimize water use.  To reduce water use, install water-saving devices on the showers and toilets, space laundry washings, and repair leaks in the faucets or toilet tanks

·    Do not use a garbage disposal with the septic system because it can dilute the bacteriological farm and cause the system to fill up prematurely.

·    Avoid putting paint thinners, photographic chemicals, and insect sprays into the system, as they are also harmful to the bacteriological farm.

·    If the drain field is not pumped and becomes clogged, you may be able to break up the solids with hydrogen peroxide.  Note: Also, there is no hard evidence that adding yeast, bacteria enzymes or chemicals will help the system.

 
         

 

 

RADON -  Health Hype or Risk . . . . continued

 

Is radon a significant health risk?
 When radon enters a home, it decays into radioactive particles that have a static charge, which attracts them to particles in the air. These particles can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As the radioactive particles break down further, they release bursts of energy which can damage the DNA in lung tissue. In some cases, if the lung tissue does not repair the DNA correctly, the damage can lead to lung cancer.

 Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer, but your risk of getting radon-induced lung cancer increases as your exposure to radon increases (either because the radon levels are higher or you are in the home longer). Smokers who have high radon levels in their homes are at especially high risk for getting radon-induced lung cancer.

 

How does radon enter a home?
Four main factors drive radon entry into homes. All of these factors exist in most homes throughout the country.

1.  Uranium is present in the soil nearly everywhere in the United States.
2.  The soil is permeable enough to allow radon to migrate into the home through the slab, basement or crawlspace.
3.  There are pathways for the radon to enter the basement, such as small holes, cracks, plumbing penetrations or sumps. 

4.  An air pressure difference between the basement or crawlspace and the surrounding soil draws radon into the home.

 Is there a safe level of radon?
There is no known safe level of radon. As your exposure to radon is increased, so is your risk for developing lung cancer. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk.

 

How does air pressure affect radon entry?
The air pressure in a house is generally lower than in the surrounding air and soil, particularly in the basement and foundation levels. This difference in pressure causes a house to act like a vacuum, drawing air containing radon and other soil gases in through foundation cracks and other openings. Some of the replacement air comes from the underlying soil and can contain radon.

 One reason why this pressure difference occurs is because exhaust fans remove air from inside the house. When this air is exhausted, outside air enters the house to replace it. Another cause for a pressure difference is that warm air rises and will leak from openings in the upper portion of the house when temperatures are higher indoors than outdoors. This condition, known as “stack effect,” causes unconditioned replacement air to enter the lower portion of the house.

Mechanical systems, such as the furnaces or central air conditioners, may also contribute to the difference in air pressure. In areas with very short mild winters, mechanical systems can be the dominant driving force. Air handlers and leaky return ducts can not only draw in radon, they can also distribute it throughout a home.

 What can you do to reduce radon in new homes?
You can easily draw radon away and help prevent radon from entering the home with the following steps.

 Install a sub-slab (or sub-membrane) depressurization system
The objective of these systems is to create a vacuum beneath the foundation which is greater in strength than the vacuum applied to the soil by the house itself. The soil gases that are collected beneath the home are piped to a safe location to be vented directly outside.

 Use mechanical barriers to soil gas entry
Plastic sheeting and foundation sealing and caulking can serve as barriers to radon entry, entry of other soil gases and moisture.

 Reduce stack effect
Sealing and caulking reduce stack effect, and thus reduce the negative pressure in lower levels in the home.

 Install air distribution systems so that soil air is not “mined”
Air-handling units and all ducts in basements and, especially, in crawlspaces should be sealed to prevent air, and radon, from being drawn into the system. Seamless ducts are preferred for runs through crawlspaces or beneath slabs. Any seams or joints in ducts should be sealed.
A WORD TO THE WISE ISN’T NECESSARY -- IT'S THE STUPID ONES THAT NEED THE ADVICE.
From Tamaria’s Kitchen

Chicken With Wine and Mushrooms

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 boneless chicken breast halves, without skin
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried leaf tarragon
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water

 
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
  • juice of 1 small lemon, about 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons
  • 3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley or chives, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 tablespoon butter

 

 

PREPARATION:

 

Flatten chicken breasts; place plastic wrap over each chicken breast and gently pound with smooth side of a meat mallet until uniform thickness.

In a pie plate or wide shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, tarragon, and basil.

In another pie plate or shallow bowl, beat eggs with the water.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet.

Dip chicken pieces into egg, coating well, then into the flour and herb mixture, turning several times. When chicken is well coated, place in hot butter and oil in the skillet. Brown chicken on both sides for about 3 minutes per side, or until juices run clear and chicken is brown. Remove to a plate.

Add mushrooms and remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Saute for about 4 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are browned. Add the broth, wine, and lemon juice; simmer rapidly for about 3 minutes to reduce somewhat.

Combine 1 tablespoon flour with 1 tablespoon butter, stirring until smooth. Add to the broth and wine mixture, stirring and cooking for a minute, until thickened, then add chicken back to the skillet. Heat through. Serve garnished with fresh parsley or chives.                                                   Serves 4