What is Radon?
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.
The release of this radioactive gas enters the air you breathe, causing a potential health risk to
you and your family.
Radon gas can be found just about anywhere. It can get into any type of building -- homes,
offices, and schools -- and build up to high levels.
What you should know about Radon:
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You can't see or smell radon because it is a
colorless, odorless gas. Radon is a decay product of uranium and occurs naturally in soil and
rock, and therefore radon levels can vary home to home. Other sources of radon include well
water and building materials.
Radon is a radioactive gas and has been identified as a leading cause of lung cancer, second
only to cigarette smoking in the United States. EPA's most recent health risk assessment
estimates that 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are due to radon.
You should test for radon. Testing is the only way to find out what your home's radon level is. The
EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing of all homes below the third floor for radon.
You can fix a radon problem. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are methods that
can reduce high levels of radon. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
If you are buying a home. EPA recommends that you obtain the radon level in the home you are
considering buying. An EPA publication "The Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide" is available
through most State Health Departments or Regional EPA offices listed in your local phone book.
EPA also recommends that you use a certified or state licensed radon tester to perform the test. If
elevated levels are found it is recommended that these levels be reduced. In most cases, a
professional can accomplish this at reasonable cost or homeowner installed mitigation system that
adheres to the EPA's approved methods for reduction of radon in a residential structure.
Radon and Home Sales. More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon
levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often
little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and
save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won't
complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, call your state radon office for EPA's
pamphlet "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some common
questions. You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches
apart) to decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
• Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
• Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your
state radon office can assist you in identifying a qualified tester.
• Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they plan
to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test.
Today many homes are built to prevent radon from coming in. Your state or local area may
require these radon-resistant construction features. If you are buying or renting a new home, ask
the owner or builder if it has radon-resistant features. The EPA recommends building new homes
with radon-resistant features in high radon potential (Zone 1) areas. Even if built radon-resistant,
every new home should be tested for radon after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L
or more, you can have a qualified mitigator easily add a vent fan to an existing passive system
and further reduce the radon level in your home. For more information, refer to EPA's Map of
Radon Zones and other useful EPA documents on radon-resistant new construction (see
publications), or visit www.epa.gov/radon.
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found 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. Sometimes radon enters the home
through well water (see "Radon in Water" below). In a small number of homes, the building
materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by
themselves.
RADON GETS IN THROUGH:
1. Cracks in solid floors
2. Construction joints
3. Cracks in walls
4. Gaps in suspended floors
5. Gaps around service pipes
6. Cavities inside walls
7. The water supply
Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated
levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for
general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in
some areas, any home can have a problem. The only way to know about radon in your home is to
test.
Radon can also be a problem in schools and workplaces. Ask your state radon office about
radon problems in schools, daycare and childcare facilities, and workplaces in your area.
Test Your Home Today!
Radon can be a problem in all types of homes, including old homes, new homes, drafty homes,
insulated homes, homes with basements and homes without basements. Testing your home for
radon is the only way for you and your family to know if radon levels are dangerously high.
Find out more about who can test and fix your home for radon. Many people don’t know that
reliable radon tests can be purchased at some local hardware stores and from the National
Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON [1-800-767-7236].
The only way to know whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your
family from radon, is to TEST!
Find out more: Radon Frequent Questions; Radon Myths and Facts; and, Radon Health Risks
How to Test Your Home
You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All
you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
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 (pCi/L) (4 pCi/L
equals to 0.016 WL). 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. If you prefer, or if you are buying
or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first
contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a
private radon proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your
area. For links and information, visit www.epa.gov/radon/proficiency.html
.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your
windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating
and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or
other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or
small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are
doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors
at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting
just 2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit
should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is
frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a
living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20
inches above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed - away from drafts, high heat, high
humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away
for analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test
(Step 2) to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
• For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.
• If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a
short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than
twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately.
Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result
is 4 pCi/L or more. 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.
Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see
also Home Sales)
Important: Consult the EPA Map of Radon Zones document (EPA-402-R-93-071) before using this
map. This document contains information on radon potential variations within counties. EPA also
recommends that this map be supplemented with any available local data in order to further
understand and predict the radon potential of a specific area. This and other indoor air quality
publications can be ordered through the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse.
IAQ INFO
P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013-7133
1-800-438-4318/703-356-4020
(fax) 703-356-5386
iaqinfo@aol.com
HELPFUL WEBSITE LINKS:
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.
The release of this radioactive gas enters the air you breathe, causing a potential health risk to
you and your family.
Radon gas can be found just about anywhere. It can get into any type of building -- homes,
offices, and schools -- and build up to high levels.
What you should know about Radon:
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You can't see or smell radon because it is a
colorless, odorless gas. Radon is a decay product of uranium and occurs naturally in soil and
rock, and therefore radon levels can vary home to home. Other sources of radon include well
water and building materials.
Radon is a radioactive gas and has been identified as a leading cause of lung cancer, second
only to cigarette smoking in the United States. EPA's most recent health risk assessment
estimates that 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are due to radon.
You should test for radon. Testing is the only way to find out what your home's radon level is. The
EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing of all homes below the third floor for radon.
You can fix a radon problem. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are methods that
can reduce high levels of radon. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
If you are buying a home. EPA recommends that you obtain the radon level in the home you are
considering buying. An EPA publication "The Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide" is available
through most State Health Departments or Regional EPA offices listed in your local phone book.
EPA also recommends that you use a certified or state licensed radon tester to perform the test. If
elevated levels are found it is recommended that these levels be reduced. In most cases, a
professional can accomplish this at reasonable cost or homeowner installed mitigation system that
adheres to the EPA's approved methods for reduction of radon in a residential structure.
Radon and Home Sales. More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon
levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often
little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and
save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won't
complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, call your state radon office for EPA's
pamphlet "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some common
questions. You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches
apart) to decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
• Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
• Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your
state radon office can assist you in identifying a qualified tester.
• Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they plan
to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test.
Today many homes are built to prevent radon from coming in. Your state or local area may
require these radon-resistant construction features. If you are buying or renting a new home, ask
the owner or builder if it has radon-resistant features. The EPA recommends building new homes
with radon-resistant features in high radon potential (Zone 1) areas. Even if built radon-resistant,
every new home should be tested for radon after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L
or more, you can have a qualified mitigator easily add a vent fan to an existing passive system
and further reduce the radon level in your home. For more information, refer to EPA's Map of
Radon Zones and other useful EPA documents on radon-resistant new construction (see
publications), or visit www.epa.gov/radon.
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found 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. Sometimes radon enters the home
through well water (see "Radon in Water" below). In a small number of homes, the building
materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by
themselves.
RADON GETS IN THROUGH:
1. Cracks in solid floors
2. Construction joints
3. Cracks in walls
4. Gaps in suspended floors
5. Gaps around service pipes
6. Cavities inside walls
7. The water supply
Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated
levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for
general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in
some areas, any home can have a problem. The only way to know about radon in your home is to
test.
Radon can also be a problem in schools and workplaces. Ask your state radon office about
radon problems in schools, daycare and childcare facilities, and workplaces in your area.
Test Your Home Today!
Radon can be a problem in all types of homes, including old homes, new homes, drafty homes,
insulated homes, homes with basements and homes without basements. Testing your home for
radon is the only way for you and your family to know if radon levels are dangerously high.
Find out more about who can test and fix your home for radon. Many people don’t know that
reliable radon tests can be purchased at some local hardware stores and from the National
Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON [1-800-767-7236].
The only way to know whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your
family from radon, is to TEST!
Find out more: Radon Frequent Questions; Radon Myths and Facts; and, Radon Health Risks
How to Test Your Home
You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All
you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
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 (pCi/L) (4 pCi/L
equals to 0.016 WL). 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. If you prefer, or if you are buying
or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first
contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a
private radon proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your
area. For links and information, visit www.epa.gov/radon/proficiency.html
.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your
windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating
and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or
other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or
small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are
doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors
at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting
just 2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit
should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is
frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a
living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20
inches above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed - away from drafts, high heat, high
humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away
for analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test
(Step 2) to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
• For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.
• If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a
short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than
twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately.
Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result
is 4 pCi/L or more. 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.
Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see
also Home Sales)
Important: Consult the EPA Map of Radon Zones document (EPA-402-R-93-071) before using this
map. This document contains information on radon potential variations within counties. EPA also
recommends that this map be supplemented with any available local data in order to further
understand and predict the radon potential of a specific area. This and other indoor air quality
publications can be ordered through the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse.
IAQ INFO
P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013-7133
1-800-438-4318/703-356-4020
(fax) 703-356-5386
iaqinfo@aol.com
HELPFUL WEBSITE LINKS:
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| HOME SERVICES |