Radon is

Sneaky. You can’t see it or smell it, so unless you test for it, there’s no telling what your exposure level is. What you can’t see CAN hurt you.

Deadly.  In the U.S. about 21,000 deaths per year are attributed to radon gas exposure. Radon is the greatest cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.

Selective. Children and smokers are at much greater risk of developing lung cancer as a result of exposure to radon, but anyone is susceptible.

Everywhere. Elevated radon levels are found in all 50 states in the U.S., all across Canada and around the world. Surveys show that 1 out of 5 homes in the U.S. has elevated radon levels.

Unpredictable. Neighboring houses may have vastly different radon levels. A new home may have a higher level of radon than an older home. It’s almost always impossible to predict radon levels based on house age and location.

A deal breaker. Selling a house with high radon levels can be difficult or impossible. Most home sales require a radon test to be done before the sale is completed.

Globally recognized. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends reducing radon levels to below 4pCi/L (4 picocuries per liter of air). But the World Health Organization recommends a maximum exposure level of 2.7pCi/L.

Easy and affordable to detect. Radon test kits for homeowners are widely available and easy to use. Alternatively, homeowners can contact a radon mitigation contractor to have a radon test performed. 

Not difficult or expensive to remove. Established techniques for radon mitigation have proven to be extremely effective in reducing radon concentrations to recommended levels. 

Never going away. If your home hasn’t been tested for radon, the U.S. Surgeon General, EPA, American Lung Association, American Medical Association and National Safety Council all recommend having this test performed right away so that mitigation work can be performed if necessary. 

Published by National Radon Defense on 09/21/2010