Radon Information
What is Radon?
Radon is a gas that is generated from the radioactive decay of radium that is buried in the earths crust.
Since radon is a gas generated within the earth's crust, it often finds its way into buildings where it can accumulate.
Occupants of the buildings hence exposed to radon which is also radioactive.
What you should know about Radon
Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. You cannot see radon and you cannot smell it or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. This is because when you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
You should test for radon. Testing is the only way to find out about your home's radon level. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing of all homes below the third floor for radon. Some of the highest radon levels have been measured next to homes that have very low levels of radon.
Radon problems can be fixed. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
If you are buying a home. EPA recommends that you obtain the radon level in the home you consider buying. An EPA publication "The Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide" is available through most State Health Departments or Regional EPA offices listed in your local phone book. EPA also recommends that you use a certified or state licensed radon tester to perform the test. If elevated levels are found it is recommended that these levels be reduced. In most cases, a professional radon mitigator can accomplish this at reasonable cost.
What are the Risk Factors?
The EPA, Surgeon General and The Center for Disease Control, have all agreed that continued exposure to radon gas can cause lung cancer.
In fact, their position on the matter is that all homes should be tested for radon gas exposure, and all homes testing over 4 pCi/L should be fixed.
Link to peer reviewed research on radon risk publications http://www.radonnews.org/RadonRiskStudies/index.html
How Does Radon Enter the Home?
Typically the air pressure inside your home is lower than the pressure in the soil around your home's foundation.
Due to this pressure differential, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon gas in through foundation cracks and other openings of your home. Sealing cracks and openings in basements may reduce radon entry however, these efforts rarely provide significant reduction in radon levels.
Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. This is a rare source of radon in New York State.
Potential Entry Points:
| 1 |
Cavities inside walls |
2 |
Cracks in solid floors |
3 |
Construction joints |
| 4 |
Cracks in walls |
5 |
The water supply (rarely a factor in NYS) |
6 |
Gaps in suspended floors |
| 7 |
Gaps around service pipes |
| 8 |
Sump well (not shown on diagram) | |
