Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon but it may be a problem in your home. 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 in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon induced lung cancer costs the United States over $2 billion dollars per year in both direct and indirect health care costs.
Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface and then it is too late.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association and National Safety Council all recommend testing your home for radon.
If you find that your home has high radon levels, there are ways to reduce the concentrations. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Most radon problems can be fixed by a do-it-yourselfer for for less than $500. Many property owners discover radon gas and then do nothing, usually because they fear the remediation costs would be too far out of their common maintenance costs or lack of knowledge. Many radon remediation companies will help you interpret the radon test results, some even coming into your home for a free evaluation. Anyone coming into your home should guarantee levels under 4.0 pci/l after remediation. Generally, to have a professional remediate, you can anticipate anywhere from $300 to $1500, with the guarantee that the home will test under 4.0 pci/l.
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