When purchasing a home, it is a good idea to have a radon test performed. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed when uranium decays in the soil. You cannot see or smell radon. Uranium is in geological formations throughout North Carolina. When homes or other buildings are built on top of these geological formations, radon is pulled into the home and can concentrate to dangerous levels. Exposure to radon gas has been found to cause lung cancer.
Radon Gas Gets in Through:
- Cracks in solid floors
- Construction joints
- Cracks in walls
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply
Testing
Every home in North Carolina is prone to having a level of radon gas and the N.C. Radon Program recommends that ALL HOMES be tested. After an offer is accepted on a home, the buyer has up to the due diligence date to have Radon testing completed by certified Radon tester. Testing radon gas will help determine the amount of radon you may be breathing.
For existing home owners, testing your home for radon is as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in a designated area, and after the prescribed number of days (usually 2-7 days), sealing the detector back in the package and mailing it to a lab for evaluation. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity.
The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that homes with radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L be repaired to reduce the amount of radon entering the indoor air.
You may also have a trained and certified radon service professional conduct the measurement in your home. It is highly recommended that anyone having their home measured or mitigated for radon have it done by someone that is certified by either the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). The EPA recognizes these two agencies for certification purposes.
Health Impact
Radon gas causes lung cancer and very rarely stomach cancer. There are no other proven human health consequences from exposure to radon gas. Exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Risk for lung cancer is dependent on the concentration amount you are exposed to, the duration or length of time you are exposed to radon gas, and whether you smoke or do not smoke.
Additional Information from EPA about radon.