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                  Radon Exposure 

What is radon?

• Radon is a radioactive gas.  It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils.
  
  
• It 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.
  
  

How can radon affect my health?

• Radon in indoor air is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
  
  
• Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer.
  
  
• Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure.
  
   

Should I have my home tested for radon?

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General recommend testing homes below the third floor for radon. The EPA also recommends radon testing before buying or selling a home.
  
  
• If you are interested in finding a qualified radon service professional to test or mitigate your home, or you need to purchase or have questions about a radon measurement device, you should:
  
  
  1. Contact your State Radon Contact (go to www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html  and click on your state to get contact information) to determine what are, or whether there are, requirements associated with providing radon measurement and or radon mitigations/reductions in your State.
  
  Some States maintain lists of contractors available in their state or they have proficiency programs or requirements of their own.
  
  
  2. You can also call 1-800-SOS-RADON for more information or go to http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/public.html for 5 things you can do to protect your home. At http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/nram/radon_facts_english.pdf you can find out how to obtain a radon test kit.