Everything you wanted to know about Radon Radon: What Is It And How Does Get Into Your Home? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soil. Radon gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It generally moves through the ground into the air above. It also moves through cracks and other holes in the foundation of your home. Your home can become a trap for radon, where it can build up to high levels. Any home can have an elevated level of radon. Old homes, new homes, drafty homes, well-sealed homes and homes with and without basements are all susceptible. How Do I Test For Radon? Even though you can't see radon, it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. There is little or no interruption to your normal living pattern or lifestyle. Testing is inexpensive and easy. The test usually consists of placing a small charcoal-containing canister in the lowest living area of your home. The canister is left undisturbed for at least 48 hours. Then, it is sent to a lab where it is analyzed. A report is generated and sent to the appropriate parties. What Do I Have To Do For The Test? Preparing for a radon test is simple and easy. You only need to maintain "closed house conditions" for 12 hours prior to the beginning of the test. "Closed house conditions" means the following: All exterior windows must be kept closed. All exterior doors must be kept closed, except for normal entry and exit. High volume, whole house and window fans must not be operated. Furnaces and central air conditioning units can be operated normally. What Do The Test Results Mean? The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L". Although no radon level is safe, the EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher. The action level means that corrective action must be performed. Even radon levels below 4.0 pCi/L pose some risk. You can reduce your risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level. Myths and Facts about Radon Fact: Class A Carcinogen - known cancer causing gas. Colorless, odorless and tasteless. Causes an average of 14,000 deaths/year in the U.S. Surgeon General calls it the second leading cause of lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. Smokers are 15 to 20 times more at risk. Millions of homes have elevated levels. Affects new and old homes alike. Found everywhere, including Northern NJ area. Testing is inexpensive and easy. Thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Myth: Scientists aren't sure radon really is a problem. Fact: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers. Myth:Homes with radon problems can't be fixed. Fact: Mitigating a home with a radon problem involves venting the air under the ground level slab. The vented air is then piped outside. This is highly specialized work and only properly licensed individuals can do it. Call your state radon office for a list of contractors that have met EPA requirements or are state certified. Myth: Radon only affects certain kinds of homes. Fact: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements and homes without basements. Myth: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country. Fact: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area and house to house, but the only way to know your radon level is to test. Myth: A neighbor's test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem. Fact: It's not. Radon levels vary from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.