If your water comes from a well, and you found radon air in your home, it's critical to perform a radon test on your water

-Oregon Health Authority / 2022

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Radon Testing

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that comes from decomposing uranium in the soil, it can escape from the ground into your home. The only way to detect radon in your home is with a closed-condition radon test.

The Oregon Health Authority has collected radon test data, and reports that several neighborhoods in the Portland Metro have elevated levels! The Washington DOH also reports that testing has shown Vancouver, Washington has radon levels that put their citizens at high risk. Not enough testing has been done to know what the actual risk of exposure is in much of the state but the areas with the highest known levels are in NW Oregon, including the Columbia Gorge and Willamette River Valley.

Soil, water and construction materials can contain chemical elements such as uranium, thorium and radium which decay into radon. Radon accounts for around a half of all human exposure to radiation. It is also the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Testing is the only way to detect harmful levels.

NRSB Radon in Air Inspection

We have certified personnel to conduct short-term and long-term testing.

• A short-term test requires a closed house condition for 48 hours to 90 days.

• A long-term test does not require a closed-house condition, meaning you can live normally. This is a 91-plus-day sampling test window.

We will send one of our National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) Certified Radon Measurement Specialists to conduct a closed-condition radon test for commercial transactions.

For either short-term or long-term testing, if the results are above 4 picocuries, then a follow-up test is recommended. If results are greater than 8 picocuries, then a follow-up test is not recommended. Instead, remediation is recommended.

The long-term test is the most accurate, and we'll give information on true conditions for the time of year you are testing for. A 48-hour test is the bare acceptable minimum, due to the time constraints of purchasing a home. Every day past 48 hours gives you a more accurate reading. The big question may be how long the client can maintain closed-house conditions. Short-term tests are a snapshot in time for a possible worst-case scenario.

Radon in Water

Though radon entering your home through the soil is usually a much larger risk, your water supply is potential source. Most of the risk comes from atoms released into the air when water is used for showering and other household purposes. A radon in water problem is more likely when you get your drinking water from ground water (private well or public water supply system that uses ground water). If your water comes from a well, and you found radon air in your home, perform a radon test on your water.

Easy-to-Use DIY Kits

We have DIY home radon test kits available for both radon in air and radon in water.
Our send-in, DIY Radon in Air Test Kit comes with all the necessary supplies:
electret radon monitor, instructions, chain of custody form, and pre-paid return label.
Our send-in, DIY Radon in Water Test Kit includes: sample bottles, a guide book, and a
pre-paid return label. Take your sample, send it in or drop it off, and we will take care
of the rest and send you your results.