Radon has been one of the top factors affecting many people’s health. You would be surprised to know that radon is the second most common reason behind lung cancer. Higher radon levels can increase the chances of cancer. In such cases, it would be best to consider radon testing for your home.
Radon levels can be decreased by conducting a series of radon tests. However, many people do not know the different types of tests available. It would be most helpful if you knew every kind of test and finalized the one that suits your home the most.
Types of radon tests:
- Short-term radon tests
Generally, short-term radon tests use activated charcoal to detect and absorb the radon gas in the atmosphere. These short-term radon test kits include a container loaded with activated charcoal. The charcoal is typically screened or perforated with a filter that leaves the radon decay products out.
Once the test is conducted, the absorber is resealed and returned to a laboratory or a vendor for further processing and evaluation of radon levels. If you have never checked your home for radon, using short-term radon tests will be ideal as these are optimal for initial tests.
- Long-term radon tests
Long-term radon test kits include a detector composed of an undersized sheet of unique plastic material confined in a container. These containers generally have a filter-covered opening. Radon gas will enter the container when performing a long-term radon test. After the test, the container will emit alpha particles.
These alpha particles generally strike the plastic sheet and leave tracks or marks which could be further processed. Long-term tests can provide a year-round average radon level. Most long-term kits come with a recommended measurement period of three months.
- Professional radon tests
Professional tests, also known as continuous radon monitors(CR), range in three types. The three types of CRs are scintillation, ionization chamber, and solid-state detection. The prime advantage of using professional radon tests is that it provides the data on location and has the highest rate of accuracy and precision over a short measurement period.
Professional radon tests often precisely follow variations in radon levels and provide results based on those variations. Although, these tests are generally expensive compared to short-term or long-term radon tests. These tests require a professional to perform the tests and measurements. Lastly, professional radon tests are limited to short-term testing only.
As a result, you should choose any of the radon tests mentioned above if you suspect your home is filled with radon. If you still face confusion in choosing one of the tests, you should go with short-term radon tests initially.