ABOUT RADON - WHAT IS IT?

Radon is a cancer causing poisonous gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium rock. It cannot be seen, smelt, or tasted. The only way to know of it’s presence is through testing. The Surgeon General warns that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, causing over 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It is estimated that 1 in every 5 American homes has radon above the action level, which has been set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 4.0 pCi/L. If your home is above the action level it is strongly recommended that the structure has a radon mitigation system installed.

Radon is found throughout the United States, with it being more common in certain areas. The EPA has put together the below map that divides the United States into three zones to identify areas with the potential for elevated indoor radon levels. Zone 1 has the highest potential for elevated radon levels and zone 3 the lowest. Ohio is a mix of zones 1 and 2, indicating it is very common to find elevated levels of radon inside structures.

Firstly, it is important to know that all homes will have some level of radon. It is estimated that the average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is found in the exterior air. The more elevated of radon levels and the longer the exposure to it increases the risk of developing lung cancer. That is why it is critical to have radon levels lowered in your home if the concentration is elevated. Having a radon mitigation system installed will lower radon levels. Reliance Radon Services has licensed installers who can provide a free quote for the installation of a system.