ABOUT RADON
It’s in the air.
Know what’s in yours.
Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless and odorless radioactive gas. The only way to know your home’s radon level is to test.
UNDERSTANDING RADON
Invisible does not mean insignificant.
Radon is formed by the radioactive decay of uranium in soil and rock. It can enter homes where it is inhaled by the occupants.
After smoking, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The EPA estimates that radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung-cancer deaths every year, including about 2,900 among people who have never smoked.
ANY HOME CAN HAVE RADON
New or old. Sealed or drafty. Basement or no basement.
Radon concentrations above the EPA action level have been detected in homes throughout the United States. A home’s age, design, or location within a neighborhood cannot tell you its radon level.
When a result is at or above this level, the EPA recommends taking action to reduce indoor radon.
A DOCUMENTED RESULT
Measure what you cannot see.
Radon has no smell and exposure causes no immediate symptoms. The U.S. EPA, Surgeon General, American Medical Association, and American Lung Association recommend testing because it is the only way to determine a home’s radon level.
A radon test provides an objective measurement of the radon concentration in the air. Short-term results represent the test period only; radon can vary by room, day, season, weather, and building conditions.
WHEN LEVELS ARE ELEVATED
Radon levels can be reduced.
Radon levels can be lowered through repairs from sealing cracks in foundations, floors, and walls to changing the flow of air into the building.
Sub-slab depressurization uses pipes and fans to remove radon from beneath the concrete floor and foundation before it can enter the building. The radon is then vented above the roof where it safely disperses.
Repairs should be made by an EPA- or state-certified radon mitigation contractor.
Illustration: radon can move up through soil, collect beneath a foundation, and enter indoor air. A mitigation system directs it safely outdoors.