Radon Questions & Answers

Why Do You Need to Test for Radon?

      Radon Has Been Found In Homes All Over the U.S.

      Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home can trap radon inside.
      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.

My neighbors have tested their home and don't have high levels so why should I test?

      Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same street. It is nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of geologic soil deposits and the extent to which soil gasses will seep into and be retained by a specific house. The only way to know whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your family from radon, is to test.

Is there proof that radon is a serious health problem?

      The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before have we had such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. In February of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented the findings of their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by NAS is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem. Not everyone who is exposed to elevated levels of radon gas will develop lung cancer, but your risk of getting radon-induced lung cancer increases as your exposure to radon gas increases. Smokers who have high radon levels in their homes are at an especially high risk for getting radon-induced lung cancer. The study fully supports the U.S. EPA estimates stating that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). The mountain counties in Western North Carolina (EPA Zone Map) are listed as Zone I and Zone II which are typically more elevated then the rest of the state.

What can I do about high Radon levels?

Mitigation by a trained, licensed technician is the best way to ensure proper ventilation. Please see MITIGATION SYSTEMS for more information.

What are "PicoCuries"?

      The concentration of radon gas is not measured directly but rather by the radioactivity it produces. It is expressed in picoCuries per liter of air, or "pCi/L". A Curie is a unit of radioactivity equivalent to 1 gram of radium and the prefix "pico" means a trillionth. In the metric system, radon concentration is expressed in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). One Becquerel means one radioactive disintegration per second, and 4 pCi/L equals to 148 Bq/m3. In an average basement, 38 million atoms will undergo radioactive decay each hour.

Where can I find more information about Radon?

A Citizen's Guide To Radon

Home Buyer's And Seller's Guide To Radon

Read about Radon on Wikipedia.