Gain Peace of mind by having your Daycare
tested for radon gas
In order to be a licensed daycare in the state of Michigan you must:
- Test the lowest level of the child care home.
- Show that the level of radon gas does not to exceed 4 pCi/L of air.
- Document the results and keep the records on file in the home.
Daycare Technical Manual, Section R 400.1934
(4) A licensee shall test the child care home for the concentration of radon gas before the initial license is issued and every 4 years thereafter at the time of license renewal.
According to EGLE’s website, testing can be done with a do-it-yourself kit that you send back to a laboratory for analysis, or you can hire a professional to test for you.
(4) A licensee shall test the child care home for the concentration of radon gas before the initial license is issued and every 4 years thereafter at the time of license renewal.
According to EGLE’s website, testing can be done with a do-it-yourself kit that you send back to a laboratory for analysis, or you can hire a professional to test for you.
Radon is the #2 cause of Lung cancer
What is radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is produced by decaying uranium in the earth's soil. It’s present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon are found in the air we breathe every day. Higher levels of radon can be found indoors. Closed home conditions tend to keep levels of radon gas from being diluted by fresh air. This is one reason exposure is higher in winter months.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is produced by decaying uranium in the earth's soil. It’s present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon are found in the air we breathe every day. Higher levels of radon can be found indoors. Closed home conditions tend to keep levels of radon gas from being diluted by fresh air. This is one reason exposure is higher in winter months.
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How does radon enter a home?
Radon gas is drawn into a home from the surrounding soil through any cracks, gaps, and penetrations in a home's foundation wall or floor. It also can seep directly through pores in concrete. Any home, of any age, in any state, can have elevated radon levels. It ultimately depends on the design and way your home interacts with the surrounding soil. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space as this level is closest to the source of the radon. Therefore, people who spend much of their time in basement rooms have a greater risk of being exposed. |
Why is it a problem?
Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. Radon gas in the air breaks down into tiny radioactive elements that can become lodge in the lining of the lungs, where they can give off radiation. This radiation in return damages lung cells and eventually leads to lung cancer.
Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. Radon gas in the air breaks down into tiny radioactive elements that can become lodge in the lining of the lungs, where they can give off radiation. This radiation in return damages lung cells and eventually leads to lung cancer.
- The Environmental Protection Agency classified radon as a human carcinogen in 1988.
- Today radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the U.S.
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall with cigarette smoking being the most common cause.
- Smokers who are exposed to radon will significantly increase their chance of developing lung cancer.
- Over 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year.
- Radon poses a greater health risk to children than to adults.
How Hammer Home Inspections tests for radon?
With the use of continuous radon monitors (CRM). CRM is a device that is placed usually, in the lowest livable level of the daycare. This device will continuously sample the air and record radon levels. The minimum amount of time needed to test is 48 hours. This is considered a short-term test. Long-term testing would be over 90 days. To help give your daycare a timely yet accurate reading, Hammer Home Inspections prefers to drop off the CRM at the end of a week and test over the weekend. In most cases, this allows for more controlled testing conditions and provides the opportunity for a longer test period.
When testing for radon, closed home conditions are needed. What this means is that all doors and windows of the daycare need to be closed 12 hours before the CRM is set in place and these conditions must be maintained throughout the test period. Of course, normal use of doors and windows for entry is acceptable. Heating and cooling systems should be operated as normal as well. Maintaining these conditions helps ensure an accurate radon reading.
When testing for radon, closed home conditions are needed. What this means is that all doors and windows of the daycare need to be closed 12 hours before the CRM is set in place and these conditions must be maintained throughout the test period. Of course, normal use of doors and windows for entry is acceptable. Heating and cooling systems should be operated as normal as well. Maintaining these conditions helps ensure an accurate radon reading.