RADON

RADON

GWINNETT PROPERTY INSPECTIONS

What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, invisible radioactive gas that comes from the decay of radium in the soil. Radium is the decay product of uranium which occurs naturally in the soil and rocks of the earth’s crust. The radon concentration in a home is dependent on the type of soil the home is built on.
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What are the health effects of Radon?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Many homes contain radon concentrations that are high enough to give their occupants lifetime exposures that could increase their risk of developing lung cancer.
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How will I know if Radon is in my area?
Radon has been found in all states and all over the world, although some areas have a greater concentration than others. According to the EPA one out of fifteen homes in the United States have high levels of radon gas.
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How does Radon enter my home?
The foundation is the most likely place for radon to enter the home. Concrete is porous by nature and by itself cannot block radon transmission. Radon is also water-soluble and attaches itself to the water molecules. As the water migrates through the wall or up from the floor it evaporates and the radon gas remains. If the basement has cracks in the floor or walls it creates another avenue for radon to enter your home. Additionally, the inside air pressure in a building is lower than the pressure in the ground. Buildings can act like a vacuum pulling the highly concentrated radon gas from below the ground into the home by the process called "wicking".
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Is there a "safe" level of Radon?
There is no safe level of radon in your home whatsoever. If you haven't already tested for radon, you need to! Testing is easy, inexpensive and is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk. You should do everything within your power to get and maintain the lowest levels of radon possible. Radon is a radioactive gas and therefore is carcinogenic. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that each year in the United States, between 15,000 and 22,000 people die from radon related lung cancer. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

The EPA has warned that radon is dangerous at any level and recommends radon levels be kept below 4 pCi/L. This is not to say that a radon level of 4 pCi/L is safe, it means that it is the "minimum" standard level that home inspectors use as a guide for homeowners to determine "high" radon levels. Because you spend more time in your home than anywhere else that is where you will receive the greatest radon exposure. Keeping radon levels as low as possible will protect the health of you and your loved ones.

Major Radon Entry Routes

Cracks in concrete slabs.
Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-block foundations.
Pores and cracks in concrete blocks.
Floor-wall joints.
Exposed soil, as in a sump or crawl space.
Weeping (drain) tile, if drained to an open sump.
Mortar joints.
Loose fitting pipe penetrations.
Open tops of block walls.
Building materials, such as brick, concrete, rock.
Well water (not commonly a major source in Minnesota homes

Once radon enters a home it moves freely throughout the indoor air and people can breath it into their lungs. Understanding how it distributes through the home environment can help explain why timing and location are important factors to consider when conducting a radon test.

The level of radon is often highest in the lower part of the building. Radon moves through a house by diffusion and natural air movements and it can be distributed by mechanical equipment such as a forced-air ventilation system. As radon moves away from the home's foundation or other entry points, it mixes (and is diluted) into a greater volume of air. In addition, more dilution often occurs in the upper levels of the home because there is more fresh air ventilation there.