Reducing Radon Risk

There are two ways to protect your family from Radon.

First, the hard way

Holding Your Breath

Test Your Home For Radon.
Your Family Will Breathe A Lot Easier.

With every breath, your family could be exposing themselves to a radioactive gas called radon. It's impossible to see, smell or taste. And it could be accumulating to unsafe levels in your home right now.

Radon is found at high levels in every state in America. It seeps into your home from the surrounding soil, and sometimes contaminates well water. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.- only cigarette smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General have strongly recommended that all residences (except those above the second floor in multi-level buildings) be tested for radon.

Your family's risk of developing lung cancer from radon depends on the average annual level of radon in your home and the amount of time you spend there. The longer your exposure to radon, the greater the risk. And the risk is much greater for smokers.

Luckily, radon is easy and inexpensive to detect. And homes with high levels can be fixed. But it's up to you to find out whether radon is a problem in your home. Millions of people have tested their homes already.

Testing Is Easy And Inexpensive.Because radon is completely invisible to sight, smell or taste, special detection kits are necessary to find a potential problem.

Radon detection kits are inexpensive and easy to use. You can purchase a kit at your local hardware store or other retail outlets. Contact your state radon office, local American Lung Association or contact a radon professional for more information on where to purchase a test kit.

After you've completed testing your home you simply mail the entire kit to the manufacturer for analysis (analysis is often included in the price of the kit). You can choose either a short-term or a long-term testing kit.

Short-term Testing Is The Quickest Way To Determine If A Potential Radon Problem Exists.Short-term testing takes anywhere from a few days to several months to complete. The most common testing devices on the market right now are charcoal canisters, electret ion detectors and alpha track detectors. Short-term testing should be conducted in the lowest living area of your home, with the doors and windows shut, during the cooler months of the year.

Long-term Testing Is The Most Accurate Way To Test For Radon.Long-term testing can take up to a full year. Alpha track detectors and electret ion detectors are the most common long term testing devices.

When you buy your kit, be sure to look for a test kit from a company that has successfully completed the EPA Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program [Now the National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP)]. Most companies indicate their test kit meets EPA requirements on the test kit box. State Radon offices also have a list of all radon measurement companies that meet state or EPA requirements.

For More InformationMost test kits contain further information about testing. If your house does need to be fixed, you'll get additional information along with your test results. And when you have tested, pass this information on to your neighbor. But please be sure to test for radon as soon as you can. And you'll all breathe a lot easier.