Insoo Park founded Ecosense Inc. after losing his best friend, Andrew, to cancer in 2016. This life-changing event inspired him to leave his 17-year semiconductor career to address radon-induced lung cancer risks. Ecosense developed the EcoQube, a highly sensitive, Wi-Fi-enabled radon monitor named one of TIME’s Top 100 Inventions of 2021. The EcoQube provides real-time updates, making radon detection accessible and affordable. Through campaigns and partnerships, Ecosense raises awareness of radon risks and promotes prevention. Validated by leading institutions, Ecosense’s technology ensures accuracy and reliability, empowering homeowners with advanced tools for radon monitoring and timely mitigation.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What inspired you to found Ecosense Inc.?
Insoo Park: After a life-changing event, losing my best friend, Andrew, all of a sudden to cancer in 2016, I decided to leave my career in the semiconductor industry where I spent 17 years with three startups to start doing something more meaningful. After two and half years of study about the radon detection market, I decided that a highly sensitive real-time digital radon detector would protect many people from radon-induced lung cancer deaths.
After a life-changing event in 2016—losing my best friend, Andrew, suddenly to cancer—I decided to leave my 17-year career in the semiconductor industry, where I worked with three startups, to pursue something more meaningful. Over the next two and a half years, I immersed myself in studying the radon detection market and discovered a critical need: a highly sensitive, real-time digital radon detector to help prevent radon-induced lung cancer deaths.
Today, my company’s mission is clear: to raise awareness that radon-caused lung cancer is entirely preventable with accurate radon testing (the Ecosense way) and timely mitigation. We aim to empower our customers to build a radon-free lifestyle—easily and without hassle.
Jacobsen: What has been the evolution of technology for detecting radon?
Park: Radon detection technology has evolved from basic methods like charcoal canisters and alpha track detectors to more sophisticated, modern digital solutions. Charcoal canisters, while affordable, provide only a one-time snapshot of radon levels and are affected by factors like humidity. These tests must remain undisturbed during sampling, meaning they don’t reflect the radon levels you encounter daily. By contrast, Digital Continuous radon monitors (CRMs) are the most effective option, offering real-time data and tracking fluctuations in radon levels over time. They seamlessly integrate into everyday life, continuously sampling radon as long as they remain powered. The good news is that while CRMs were once exclusive to radon professionals and prohibitively expensive, they are now widely affordable, offering consumers professional-grade accuracy and convenience. This continuous monitoring provides a detailed understanding of radon exposure, making CRMs an indispensable tool for year-round protection against cancer-causing radon, ensuring accurate detection and effective timely mitigation.
Jacobsen: Why would radon testing be relevant for Canadians, specifically?
Park: Radon is a significant health concern in Canada, and recent changes by Health Canada emphasize the importance of testing:
- Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
- Canada has the third highest radon exposure in the world.
- Health Canada recently (November 2024, during Radon Action Month) approved consumer-grade electronic radon monitors for long-term testing (minimum 3 months). This makes it easier for homeowners to take action and potentially use the testing results for financial assistance programs.
- Radon levels fluctuate throughout the day and across seasons, influenced by environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Ongoing monitoring is crucial, as a one-time test isn’t enough to capture these variations.
- What do fluctuations in radon levels mean? Radon levels can change due to weather patterns, soil conditions, building ventilation, and even daily activities within the home. Continuous monitoring helps you understand these fluctuations and take appropriate action.
- Testing is the only way to know your radon levels, as it’s a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas undetectable by human senses.
- Canada has relatively long, cold seasons and many mountainous areas, which are often prone to elevated radon levels.
- Testing is crucial because radon is invisible and unpredictable. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. These graphs below illustrate how radon levels can vary dramatically between day and night, and even more so between winter and summer. In Canada, with our long cold seasons, this variability is especially important to consider:
Jacobsen: How does Ecosense’s technology differ from traditional radon monitors?
Park: Ecosense’s technology stands out from traditional radon monitors due to its unmatched sensitivity, advanced real-time detection capabilities, and user-friendly features. Unlike traditional detectors that often rely on passive methods or provide delayed results, Ecosense devices use patented sensors with a counting efficiency of 30 counts per hour, far exceeding the industry standard of 2 counts per hour—making them 15 times more sensitive. This exceptional sensitivity ensures faster and more accurate radon readings, allowing users to detect changes in radon levels almost immediately.
In addition, Ecosense devices integrate seamlessly with smartphones, offering convenient access to real-time data, historical trends, and instant alerts. Compact, user-friendly, and professional-grade, Ecosense’s technology redefines radon monitoring by setting a new standard for precision, speed, and reliability in protecting homes and families.
Jacobsen: The EcoQube was named one of the Top 100 Inventions of 2021 by TIME. What is the significant development of technology in it?
Park: The EcoQube radon monitor, named one of TIME’s Top 100 Inventions of 2021, represents a significant technological advancement in radon detection. It is light, compact, and built with professional-grade sensitivity, exceeding industry standards by 15 times. Unlike other consumer-grade radon detectors that provide a 24-hour rolling average, the EcoQube updates every 10 minutes and calculates an hourly rolling average, making it the most reliable option for quickly and accurately responding to fluctuations in radon levels. This frequent updating ensures real-time monitoring and provides a more precise picture of radon trends.
The EcoQube also features Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling users to check radon levels remotely and share data with family members or radon professionals. The EcoQube app further enhances the user experience by visualizing this data in easy-to-understand graphs, making it simple to monitor radon levels over time. With its affordability, accessibility, and ease of use, EcoQube has made radon monitoring not only more accurate but also more accessible to a wide range of consumers.
Jacobsen: What are the health risks associated with radon exposure?
Park: Radon exposure is a serious but often underestimated health risk, as it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. When inhaled, radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can become trapped in the lungs, where they release radiation that damages lung tissue.
To put this into perspective, exposure to 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), the EPA’s action level for radon, is roughly equivalent to the risk of smoking about 8 cigarettes per day. It’s important to note that the risk of radon exposure is cumulative, with long-term exposure increasing the overall risk.
Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it nearly impossible to detect without a specialized device. As a result, many people are unaware they may have this “silent killer” in their homes. This lack of awareness is dangerous, as the common misconception that “if you can’t see it, it’s not a danger” often leads to delayed action, leaving many at risk without realizing it.
Jacobsen: How might Wi-Fi-enabled remote access empower homeowners to monitor and address radon levels?
Park: Wi-Fi-enabled remote access to the EcoQube radon monitor empowers homeowners by allowing them to monitor radon levels in real-time from anywhere, using a smartphone. This means they can track fluctuations in radon levels and receive instant alerts when levels exceed safe limits, without having to be physically present in the home. Remote access ensures that homeowners can take proactive steps, such as triggering their ventilation to go on, activating mitigation systems or scheduling professional inspections, without delay. Additionally, the ability to share data with family members or radon professionals makes it easier to collaborate on addressing potential health risks, leading to more informed decisions and timely action. This technology offers peace of mind and allows homeowners to stay on top of radon exposure.
Jacobsen: How does Ecosense work to make advanced radon detection technology accessible and affordable?
Park: Ecosense makes advanced radon detection technology accessible and affordable by combining high-quality sensor with user-friendly design and cost-effective pricing in mind. Unlike traditional radon detectors, which can be large, expensive, and often require professional installation, Ecosense devices are compact, easy to use, and offer Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access and real-time monitoring via smartphone apps.
Ecosense achieves affordability by streamlining its technology solely dedicated to radon gas and focusing on essential features such as 15x greater sensitivity compared to industry standards — while keeping production costs manageable. Ecosense devices have undergone third-party validation, proving that they perform similarly to professional-grade radon equipment typically priced in the tens of thousands of dollars. This validation confirms that Ecosense delivers highly accurate, reliable radon detection on par with expensive professional devices. In doing so, Ecosense brings cutting-edge radon detection to the consumer market in an affordable, practical form ensuring that consumers can effectively monitor and mitigate radon risks without the financial burden of traditional high-cost equipment.
Jacobsen: Radon-induced lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer in non-smokers. How does Ecosense aim to raise awareness?
Park: Ecosense aims to raise awareness about the risks of radon-induced lung cancer through its Radon-Free Campaign, which actively supports lung cancer survivors and advocates by amplifying their voices. As part of this initiative, Ecosense donates radon detectors to individuals and organizations, helping them monitor radon levels in their homes and communities.
The company collaborates with libraries through the Ecosense Library Lending Program to provide free access to radon detection devices and educational resources, empowering more people to take action.
Additionally, Ecosense partners with non-profit organizations focused on lung cancer prevention and awareness, further expanding the reach of their message and encouraging widespread adoption of continuous radon monitoring. Through these efforts, Ecosense is helping to educate and protect communities from the dangers of radon exposure, while giving a platform to those affected by radon-induced lung cancer.
Jacobsen: Ecosense’s products have been validated by the University of Michigan and Kansas State University. How important is this independent validation?
Park: Independent validation is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of radon detectors.
- The University of Michigan and Kansas State University are leading institutions in radon research, and their studies carry significant weight in the field.
- Their studies confirm that Ecosense’s patented technology performs comparably to top-of-the-line, research-grade detectors.
- This gives consumers confidence that Ecosense’s products are accurate and trustworthy.
- It also demonstrates Ecosense’s commitment to quality and transparency.
- In addition to university validation, Ecosense also has a strong track record in third-party studies, such as the recent intercomparison studies conducted by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) in 2023. You can find the results here and more detailed study results, where all of the Ecosense consumer-grade monitors ranked top performance.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Insoo.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, The Humanist, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332-9416), and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.
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Photo credit: Exosense, Inc.; Photo by Tatiana Zhukova on Unsplash.
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