What is radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. Radon is the by-product of natural breakdown of (radioactive) uranium in soil, rock and water and is in the air you breathe. Contrary to popular myth, radon is found is virtually all areas of the United States; there are no cities or neighborhoods that “don’t have radon.”
The greatest exposure we face is in our homes, where we spend most of our time.
Why should I be concerned about radon?
When you inhale air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. The United States’ Surgeon General warns that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. Adding smoking to the mix is a double-whammy. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Before you buy a home, test for radon.
Testing is the only way to know if the home you are considering has radon levels that fall within the Environmental Protection Agency’s “low risk” range – a level below 4.0 picocuries per liter.
If the home’s radon exposure exceeds 4 pCi/L, there are several options for radon mitigation, including “passive” mitigation solutions and “active” mitigation solutions.
For more information about radon, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s web site: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.htm
