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EPA Video Message - The Other WARNING!
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1-800-SOS-RADON
January is National Radon Action Month!
EPA and organizations nationwide dedicate January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed. Did you know? 
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer
- Nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has a high level of indoor radon
- The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend all homes be tested for radon.
- Homes with high radon levels can be fixed.
Read more about National Radon Action Month!
National Radon Results - 1985-2003 (updated version of 1985-1999 report)
Since radon’s advent as a National health concern in the mid-1980s, the United States has made significant progress in reducing the risk from radon. This progress is the result of a long-term effort between EPA, citizens, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, the business community, and other Federal agencies working together. Since 1985, millions of homes have been tested for radon, and an estimated 800,000 homes have been mitigated. In addition, approximately 1.2 million new homes have been built with radon-resistant features since 1990. EPA will continue to focus its risk reduction on mitigating existing homes and building new homes radon-resistant. As a result of these actions through 2003, EPA estimates that as many as 650 future lung cancer deaths are prevented (lives saved) each year.
*The National Radon Results: 1985 to 1999 report has been updated to reflect more recent data through 2003. A full update to the report, now called Progress in Reducing the Risk From Radon in America’s Homes has been drafted and will be posted here when completed. Download the Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the report natl_radon_results_update.pdf (a 200KB file).
There are cracks in the foundation. Nothing structural. Nothing thats going to threaten the stability of the home, but they're there. Nooks, crannies and holes through which seeps an invisible threat. Colorless, odorless and undetectable by your average human, it is none the less the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon gas - even the name sounds ominous, evoking images of radiation and nuclear devastation is created when uranium in the soil decays. The gas then seeps through any access point into a home. Common entry points are cracks in the foundation, poorly sealed pipes, drainage or any other loose point. Once in the home, the gas can collect in certain areas especially basements and other low-lying, closed areas and build up over time to dangerous levels. The Environmental Protection Agency of the US Government has set a threshold of 4 pico curies per liter as the safe level. As humans are exposed to the gas over a period of years, it can have a significant and detrimental effect.
How widespread is the problem? Radon has been found in homes in all 50 states. Certain areas are more susceptible than others (http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html), but no location is immune. Concentrations of radon-causing materials in the soil can be either natural or man-made. Homes built near historic mining operations may be at higher risk. The only way to tell for sure is to have a home tested.
Testing for radon comes in two forms: active and passive. Active devises constantly measure the levels of radon in a portion of the home and display those results. Passive devices collect samples over a period of time and then are taken away and analyzed. Either method can help you determine your level of risk. Do-it-yourself kits are available from a number of outlets, normally with passive devices. Over a period of days, the device is left in the lowest level of the home which is normally occupied. This eliminates crawl spaces under the house, but includes finished or unfinished basements. Then the results are analyzed by a professional. The other option is to engage a qualified professional to conduct the tests properly. The EPA web site (http://www.epa.gov/radon/manufact.htm) provides information on finding an appropriate resources and testing devices.
If high concentrations of radon are found in your home, you have several options. Since radon is only a problem when it is concentrated in high volume, improving the ventilation in an area is often sufficient to solve the problem. In other cases, it may be necessary to limit the amount of radon getting into the home by sealing or otherwise obstructing the access points. Once again, a professional should be engaged to ensure that the radon is effectively blocked. Typical radon mitigation systems can cost between $800 and $2500, according to the EPA.
If you're buying or selling a home, radon can be a significant issue. Buyers should be aware of the radon risk in their area and determine whether a radon test is desirable. When in doubt, the EPA always recommends testing. The cost of the test can be built into the house price. If test results already exist, make sure they are recent or that the home has not been significantly renovated since the test was performed. If in doubt, get a new test done. If you're selling a home, having a recent radon test is a great idea. By being proactive, you can assure potential buyers that there is no risk and avoid the issue from the start.
So whether you have an old home or a new one, live in an old mining town or in the middle of the Great Plains, radon is a reality. But it is a reality that we can live with. Proper testing and mitigation, can eliminate radon as a health threat. For more information, visit the EPA web site on radon at http://www.epa.gov/radon.
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