What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occuring colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in soil, rock and water. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home's foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through the foundation cracks and other openings. In the United States, radon gas in soil is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes.
Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in The United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4.0 pCi/L or more).
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time!
Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in The United States. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
U. S. SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH ADVISORY
“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.” January 2005
You cannot predict radon levels based on state, local, and neighborhood radon measurments. Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different indoor radon levels. Testing is the only way to find out what your home's radon level is!
The EPA and The Surgeon General recommend that you test your home.