Radon in the Home

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. Radon can be found all over the U.S., and comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. The gas typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure. Testing is inexpensive and easy - it should only take a few minutes of your time. Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. There are different ways of reducing radon in your home, but one of the most known and most used is the vent pipe system and fan. This system pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors. To know more about radon, go to the EPA websites and search on Radon.