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[[File:ICRPGuide.JPG|150px|thumb|right|link=Guide_to_Radon_demo|Take me back to the ICRP's [[Guide_to_Radon_demo|Guide to Radon]]!]]
Introduction
==Section 1Exposure to Radon at Home==
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'''It’s important to [[Measuring and Reducing Radon Levels in your Home|measure the radon in your home, and to take simple steps if you find that it is high.]]'''Radon in homes originates from the soil and rock surrounding it, and sometimes from building materials.
Other factors influencing radon levels in the home include: the soil composition and radon concentration, the area of the building in contact with the ground, the air-tightness of the building, the floor level and size of rooms, and lifestyle choices like opening windows and doors.
===Typical Radon Levels===
Typically, the average radon concentration in outdoor air is around 10 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]], although it be as low as 1 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] in some places and higher than 100 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] in others.
Indoors, average radon concentrations are usually higher, averaging around 50 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]], with some places less than 10 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] and others 10,000 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] or more.
Governments usually set [[Radon Recommendations for Authorities|reference levels for indoor radon]] in the 100-300 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] range
{|
|style="border: 1px solid #4682B4;" | The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) is the leading international body on radiation levels and effects. Visit the [http://www.unscear.org/ UNSCEAR website] or read the UNEP report on [https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7790;jsessionid=E71B4A7CFB4A79AB88CAC19654B2CBF7 "Radiation Effects and Sources"] based on UNSCEAR work to learn more
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==Section 2Measuring and Reducing Radon Levels in your Home==
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'''Measuring radon in your home is easy!'''
You can find a radon test kit at a local hardware store or online. Radon levels are different in different parts of your home, so put the small device in a room where people spend a lot of time. When the measurement is done, mail it back to the supplier, and they will send you the results. The cost should be no more than the equivalent of a few tens of dollars or Euros. You can also hire a professional.
A long-term measurement is preferred, ideally for three months or more. Radon levels change during the day and from season to season, making shorter measurements less reliable.
The level of radon in your home should be compared to your [[Radon Recommendations for Authorities|national reference level]], usually set somewhere in the range 100 to 300 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]].
===From the [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/ WHO Factsheet on Indoor Radon:]===
“Well-tested, durable and cost-efficient methods exist for preventing radon in new houses and reducing radon in existing dwellings.”
“Radon levels in existing homes can be reduced by:
*increasing under-floor ventilation;
*installing a radon sump system in the basement or under a solid floor;
*avoiding the passage of radon from the basement into living rooms;
*sealing floors and walls; and
*improving the ventilation of the house.”
Hiring a professional to reduce radon levels in your home will normally cost the equivalent of several hundred dollars or Euros, or more.
[[Exposure to Radon at Home | '''Find out more about how radon enters your home.''']]
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[[File:ICRPGuide.JPG|50px|link=Guide_to_Radon_demo]]Take me back to the ICRP's [[Guide_to_Radon_demo|Guide to Radon]]!
If you are looking for something more extensive look no further below are a collection of related links and articles that can provide more information on this topic!
===Exposure to Radon at Home===
{| class="wikitable"
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| DescriptionLung Cancer Risk from Radon and Progeny and Statement on Radon| URL[[ICRP Publication 115]]|-| WHO Factsheet on Indoor Radon| [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/ www.who.int]|-| Expert Summary of ICRP Recommendations on Radon| [[Media:ICRPRadonSummary.pdf|ICRP Radon Summary]]|-| Radiological Protection against Radon Exposure| [[ICRP Publication 126]]|-| WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon| [http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44149/1/9789241547673_eng.pdf Handbook]
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| DescriptionUNEP report on Radiation Effects and Sources| URL[https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7790;jsessionid=E71B4A7CFB4A79AB88CAC19654B2CBF7 https://wedocs.unep.org/]
|}
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