Four Seasons Granite Radon Test Is Underway

[admin]

Here is the data for the 48 hour test run and a graph that will make it make sense. As always, click on the photo to see a much larger picture then use your back button to return to the thread.

[admin]

This test runs proves beyond doubt that some granite countertops can produce enough radon to raise a homes radon levels to serious levels. Even at 2.5 pCi/L average after 48 hours, if you add a homes existing radon level, it can double the radon based cancer risk of the occupants. Then if you spent thousands of dollars to mitigate a soil based radon problem, you are back to where you started or worse.

Once we find some Mylar tape for sealing the room, I expect the radon levels to at least double on the non ventilated tests but the ventilated tests shouldn't rise that much.

[admin]

We conducted an open door radon room test using the Four Seasons granite. Average radiation reading is 26uR/hr gamma. The radon levels started off quite high due to the door being closed prior to the test run, but it drops below 2 pCi/L in about 4 to 5 hours, then it fluctuates between .5 and 2 pCi/L. The older model Femto Tech meter on loan from Bill Brodhead was used for the radon readings.

We ran two E-Perms concurrent with the testing, both found around 1.5 pCi/L, well within tolerance levels for the two metertypes.

Since the radon room is housed inside my 10,000 square foot shop that has 20' celings, the 768 cubic feet of radon room air is dumping into over 200,000 cubic foot of shop air.