If you're unfamiliar with radon and its long-term health effects, browse through
the following questions to learn more.
What is radon?Radon is a radioactive gas found in homes throughout the United States. Southeastern Wisconsin is a region known to have dangerous levels of radon. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium found in soil, rock, and water. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and enters your home through the cracks and holes in your home’s foundation — even the microscopic cracks and holes that are not visible. Radon can then get trapped in your home and build up to create a potentially dangerous environment.
How important is it to have my home tested for radon?The EPA recommends that every home in the U.S. be tested for radon. The only way to know how much radon your home is exposing your family to is to test. And testing only takes a few minutes of your time.
What do my test results mean?Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). If your initial test result is 4 pCi/L or higher, it is a good idea to have a follow-up test performed to verify your initial test results. If the average of the initial short-term and follow-up tests is 4 pCi/L or higher, you should take action and have a radon reduction system installed in your home. If a long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more, you should take action and have a radon reduction system installed. For test results between 2 and 4 pCi/L, you should consider having a radon reduction system installed because the EPA and the Surgeon General believe there is no safe amount of radon.
Are there any negative health effects of radon exposure?Yes. The Surgeon General has determined that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It is estimated that 21,000 Americans die each year as a result of radon exposure. Annually, radon kills more Americans than deaths associated with drunk driving or the number of deaths from lung cancer attributed to second-hand smoke.
What kind of homes can have a radon problem?Any home can have a radon problem: new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, homes with or without basements. Your next-door neighbor’s home might have a low level of radon, while your home could contain an unsafe level of radon. It is estimated there are approximately 10 million homes in the U.S. with an unsafe level of radon.
Does the type of soil under my home have anything to do with radon?No. The type of soil your home sits on has no bearing on your home having or not having radon. A home built on sand, clay, rock, gravel or black dirt has the same chance of having radon as the house next door built on a completely different soil type. Radon is everywhere. It is just a question of how concentrated the radon is under and around your home’s foundation and how much of that radon gets trapped inside your home.
Is there a safe indoor radon level?The EPA recommends taking corrective action if your radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. Radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose a health risk and in most cases can be reduced. In the U.S., the average indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor radon level is 0.4 pCi/L. Congress has set a national goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases, radon in most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or less.
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