In 1986 in Valley County, Steve and Mary Ollie bought a home radon test kit and tested the confines of their home. They were just taken precautions in order to lead a healthy life. The results of the test kit were four times over the standard EPA limit. The Ollies discovered 6.5 picocuries per liter from the cannister that was placed in their basement. An average amount, depending on the source quoted, is one picocurie or1 1/2 picocurie per liter.
In 1986 it was believed that the publicity of radon would decrease the real estate value of Valley County. However the community also believed that Radon was simply a toxic gas and easily dealt with by circulating it. Thirteen years later statistics prove that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, with cigarettes in first place. Ollie stated "Controlling radon is easily compared to some things in the environment. Because it is a gas, to get it down to average levels, it needs only be ventilated off." Since the story of radon has been in the press, there has been some talk that it might hurt the real estate values in the area. Ollie disagrees. Dr. Ollie said that the problem likely could not have existed before houses were insulated and made more air tight.
Thirteen years ago people were not as of aware of the potential risks and dangers of radon. Now thirteen years later we are resurfacing the radon testing project in Valley County. This will be the first recorded radon project in the Valley County area since 1986. Although this time the High School chemistry class is not conducting the experiment, but rather the High School Advance Biology students. This time the project is being tested through out the community as well as high cancer areas. Some possible hypothesis are wether or not the Gold Dust area soil contains high amounts of radon since its cancer population is so extensively high. Our results will be compared to the 1986 results. Fortunately this project will be followed up by new students entering the class. Meaning continuous tests will be conducted and observed.
Science and technology has increased 1986, releasing new information concerning radon, and it's dangers. Radon is a heavy radioactive inert gas released by the disintegration of radium. Radium is an intensively radioactive shining white metallic element that resembles barium; chemically occurs in combination in minute quanities in minerals that emit alpha particles and gamma rays to form radon, and is used mainly in luminous materials and in the treatment of cancer. At ordinary tempretures radon is a colorless gas. When cooled below the freezing point, radon exhibits a brilliant phosphorescence which becomes yellow as the tempreture is lowered and orange-red at the tempreture of liquid air.
Key Data:
Symbol: Rn
Name: Radon
Atomic Number: 86
Atomic Weight: 222
Group Number: 18
CAS registry ID: 10043-92-2

Although radon is an inert gas, its sources vary. Earth and rock beneath homes, well water, and building materials are the primary sources of Radon.
Historical Information
Dicoverer: Fredrich Ernst Dorn
Site of Discovery: Germany
Discovery Date: 1900
Origin of name: Named after "the element radon" 9radon
was called niton at first, from the Latin
word "nitens " meaning shining.
The origin of radon is that it is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. You cannot see it,smell it, or taste it. It comes from the natural breakdown (radioactivity decay) of uranium. Most soils consist of mass amounts of uranium. Since radon is a gas, it can be found just about anywhere. It is found in rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may be a source of radon.
Radon comes from the natural decay that is in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Some cases report radon entering the home through well water. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.
Compared to radon entering the home through soil, radon entering the home through water will in most cases be a small source of risk. Radon gas can enter the home through well water. It can be released into the air you breathe when water is used for showering and other household uses. Research suggests that swallowing water with high radon levels may pose risks, although risks from swallowing water containing radon are believed to be much lower than those from breathing air containing radon. Radon in water is not a problem in homes served by most public water supplies, it has been found in well water. For example, if you have tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, and your water comes from a well, contact a lab certified to measure radiation in water to have your water tested. Or if your on a public water supply contact the public water supply and notify them of the problem.
Congress has recognized the health consequences of radon and passed legislation acts in 1988 that established a national goal that indoor radon levels not exceed ambient outdoor levels (0.2-0.7 pCi/L). The law recognizes the need for radon testing in schools and workplaces and provides funds for states to initiate a variety of radon activities.
Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in you lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer. And the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.
Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of radon health risks. However, we know more about radon risks than risks from most other cancer causing substances. This is because estimates of radon risks are based on studies of cancer in humans (underground miners). Additional studies on more typical populations are under way. Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk. Stop smoking and lower your radon level to reduce your lung cancer risk. Children have been reported to have greater risk than adults of certain types of cancer from radiation, but there are currently no conclusive data on whether children are at greater risk than adults from radon.

Chances of getting lung cancer depend on three main factors:
How much radon is in your home.
The amount of time you spend in your home.
Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked.
Scientists are more certain about radon risks than risks from most other cancer-causing agents.
In order to be aware of radon, and know if you are at risk, you must locate the radon. You do this by testing it. The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air,"or "pCi/L." Sometimes test results are expressed in Working Levels (WL) rather than picocuries per liter. There are many kinds of "low-cost do it yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail, and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Make sure you buy a test kit that has passed EPA's testing program or is state-certified. These kits will usually display the phrase "Meets EPA's Requirements." If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home you can hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you. Call your state radon office for a list of testers.
There are general and basic ways of testing for radon. Short term testing, and long term testing. The quickest way to test is with short-term tests, because they remain in your home anywhere from only two to ninety days depending on the device. There five basic test kits used for short term testing. Charcoal canisters, alpha track, electret ion chamber, continuous monitors, and charcoal liquid scintillation detectors. Since the radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, the short term test kit is less likely to inform you of the year around average.

However the long term test kit remain in your home for more than ninety days. Alpha track, and the electret detectors are the two most common long term test kits. The whole purpose of a long term test kit is to inform you of the year around average of radon build up levels. The short term is basically just to inform you on whether or not radon flows exist in your home. Each test kit comes complete with a full and descriptive set of instructions. The EPA has three basic steps to your testing.
Step 1. Take a short term test. If your results are 4pCi/L
or higher, take a follow up test.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long or short term test:
For better understanding of your year around
average radon level, take a long term test.
If you need quick results take another short term
test.
(The higher your intial short term test result, the more certain you can be that a follow up test using short term rather than long term due to serious health risks.)
Step 3. If you followed up with a long term test:
Immediately fix your home if your results were
still 4pCi/L or higher.
If you followed up with a second short term test:
The higher your short term results, the more
certain you can be that you should fix your home.
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3pCi/L and about 0.4pCi/L of radon is normally found in the circulated air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2pCi/L or below. Short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4pCi/L. This can happen when your results are close to 4pCi/L. The EPA believes that any radon level or exposure may carry some amount of risk. No level of radon is safe. If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a basement) you should retest your home on that level. Even if your test results are below 4pCi/L you should perhaps test again in the future.
Due to there being no safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. However the risk can be reduced by reducing the level of the radon in your home. A variety of methods are used to reduce radon in your home. In some cases, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. In other cases, simple systems using pipes and fans may be used to reduce radon. Sub-slab depressurization is a system that won't require any major changes to your home. The system removes radon gas from below the concrete foundation before it can enter the home. Similar systems can also be installed in crawl spaces. Radon contractors use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors. Ways to reduce radon in your home are discussed in the EPAs Consumer Guide to Radon Reduction. A copy is available at your state radon office.
The cost of making repairs to reduce radon depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem. The average house costs about $1,200 for a contractor to fix, although this can range from $500 to $2500.
Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon leaks. The EPA Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program tests these contractors. A contractor who has passed the EPA test will carry a special RCP identification card. A trained RCP contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help pick the appropriate treatment method.
Now thirteen years after the last radon testing recorded was done Valley County, two Cascade High School Advanced Biology students have picked up where Dr. Ollie left off, with some new additions due to technology and uncovered facts. Our project includes the testing of Valley County's areas with rich uranium soil. A typical site that will soon begin to be tested thoroughly is the Gold Dust area due to its large quantities of uranium in the soil. Another report that will be looked into is the fact that there has been a substantial amount of cancer patients living in the Gold Dust area. This may be pure coincidence, but what if it's not. If not, then the situation needs to be handled carefully and immediately. Our project consists of using short term test kits in our designated testing areas. Once a test comes back above the EPA's limit then we proceed with a second test. If the second test comes back above, we then notify the proper authority. Our experiment exists with only short term tests and the statistics of uranium in the soil and cancer patients living in the area.
We hope our project will remain operational when we leave and that it will be passed down to individuals with the responsibility and dedication that the project requires. In order to keep the project operational; pictures of the test sites must be taken, research of the soil must be done in the area, along with sending in the tests and keeping records of every little detail. The key to the project is organization.