Radon is a Cancer causing radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is found all over the world including New England.  Radon can be found in any home whether it is new, old, slab, crawlspace, or basement. Radon is odorless and colorless. It typically rises up through the ground and into your home through holes in the foundation, where the concentration can build up. Air pressure in a structure is usually lower than pressure in the soil under and around a structures foundation. Because of this difference in pressure a structure may act like a vacuum drawing radon in through small openings in the foundation. Radon is a radioactive element.

This means that radon is unstable and will decay into other elements over time. These elements are called decay products. When a radioactive element decays, it emits radiation. It is the radiation given off by radon and its decay products that is the health risk concern. The decay products of radon are alpha, beta, and gamma. These decay products are not gases but are solids that form in the air whenever radon is present. These solids have an electric charge. Because of this charge, the decay product can become attracted to almost any object, including particles in the air such as dust. As you breathe it, it may become trapped in your lungs. Alpha particles are of the most concern. When lodged in the mucus membrane lining that coats the lung, this means that a radioactive material is directly on your lung tissue. The living cells of the lung now can be exposed directly to the radiation from the decay product.

The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking. The U.S. EPA has established an"action level"for indoor radon. It is 4 pCi / L (pico curies per liter of air). If your home has a radon level of 4pCi / L or greater fix the home. The average indoor radon level is estimated to be 1.3 pCi / L , 0.4 pCi / L is normally found in the outside air. Remember the ONLY way to know if you have a problem is to test. It is recommended that you hire a state certified and / or an EPA listed measurement company who can provide you with a quality test. For more info go to our links page.

EPA Recommendations:

• Test your home for radon -- it's easy and inexpensive.

• Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

• Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.
  

Radon is estimated to cause about 14,000 deaths per year. However, this number could range from 7,000 to 30,000 deaths per year The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from 1990 National Safety Council reports.