DHHS → MeCDC → Division of Public Health Systems → HETL → Radiation Test Guide and Order Form
Information
Radiation Test Guide and Order Form
Mailing Address
47 Independence Drive
Station #12
Augusta, Maine 04330
Tel #: (207) 287-1717
TTY #: Maine relay 711
Fax #: 207-287-6832
Contents
- What Every One Should Know About Testing Your HomeFor Radiation. Why should I test?
- What tests should I do?
What Every One Should Know About Testing Your Home For Radiation. Why should I test?
Real estate transactions and health concerns often trigger testing of drinking water for many contaminants. Testing for radioactive elements is often overlooked when considering the numerous tests available. Yet radioactive elements can exist at unsafe levels in both the air in the home and in drinking water from drilled wells.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed from naturally occurring elements in the rocks and soil. It can filter through the soil and enter the basement of the home. It can also dissolve in the water and be released to the air in the home as you use the water. Radium and uranium, the naturally occurring elements that produce radon, can also dissolve in well water. These elements emit a type of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water with high levels of alpha emitters over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer and other health problems.
Radon and other alpha emitters can be detected through laboratory tests. These test kits are available at the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory and at private laboratories. A list of radon testing laboratories can be obtained from the Radiation Control Program at the DHS Division of Health Engineering.
What Tests Should I Do?
Short Term Radon Air Test
This test is recommended for all homes. It measures radon present in the air in the home, but does not tell by what pathway it entered the home. The exposure period for the HETL device is exactly 48 hours. The lab must receive the sample no later than 4 days after the end of the exposure period.
- Short Term Radon Air Results - mailed approximately within 1 week after sample receipt.
Radon Water Test
This test is recommended for drilled wells and tests only for radon present in the water. It requires a special small vial to obtain the water sample and must be returned promptly to the lab for analysis.
- Radon in Water Results - mailed approximately within 1 week after sample receipt.
Gross Alpha Test
This test detects the presence of any elements in the water that emit alpha radiation except radon and is recommended for drilled wells. It requires about one-half gallon of water to process. This test does not indicate what specific element is present, but only checks for any alpha emitters. Therefore, in some cases, more specific follow-up tests need to be done to determine whether a result is satisfactory or whether treatment is recommended. HETL is currently the only laboratory in Maine certified by EPA to do this test.
- Gross Alpha Results - mailed approximately within 3 weeks after sample receipt.
Uranium Test
This test also might be recommended in some cases as a follow up to a high gross alpha test. It measures only the element uranium that might be present and requires a 120mL sample.
- Uranium Results - mailed approximately within 2 weeks after sample receipt.
