WHAT IS RADON?

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, chemically inert radioactive gas and, according to the Environmental Protection Acency, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Unless your house is tested for radon, there is no way of knowing how much of it is present. The age, color, and type of house you live in have absolutely nothing to do with the radon concentration in your home. Even brand new homes with passive mitigation systems can still test high.

Radon can be found in the earth and rock beneath your home as well as in certain building materials. It can enter your home through small cracks in the basement floor or through slab foundations. Even homes with pier foundations are not immune from high levels of radon. As it stands, the Enviromental Protection Agency recommends that all homes test for radon.

FACTS

  • Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
  • The average outdoor radon concentration is 0.4 pCi/L
  • The average indoor radon concentration is 1.3 pCi/L
  • A neighbor's test result is not a good indication of whether your home has a radon problem.
  • For real estate transactions, an average radon concentration of less than 4.0 pCi/L must be attained. If a test comes in at 4.0 pCi/L or higher, it is highly recommended that the home be mitigated.
  • For concerned home owners not in a real estate transaction, the EPA recommends testing for elevated levels above 4.0 pCi/L. If the results come in high it is recommended to do a second long term test before making any mitigation decisions.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's Web Site.

RADON RISK CHARTS

Note: These two charts were reproduced from the EPA website.

Radon Level a Lifetime Risk of Lung Cancer Death (per person) from Radon Exposure in Homes b
pCi/L Never Smokers Current Smokers c General Population
20 36 out of 1,000 26 out of 100 11 out of 100
10 18 out of 1,000 15 out of 100 56 out of 1,000
8 15 out of 1,000 12 out of 100 45 out of 1,000
4 73 out of 10,000 62 out of 1,000 23 out of 1,000
2 37 out of 10,000 32 out of 1,000 12 out of 1,000
1.25 23 out of 10,000 20 out of 1,000 73 out of 10,000
0.4 73 out of 100,000 64 out of 10,000 23 out of 10,000
a  Assumes constant lifetime exposure in homes at these levels.
b  Estimates are subject to uncertainties as discussed in Chapter VIII of the risk assessment.
c  Note:  BEIR VI did not specify excess relative risks for current smokers.