What is Radon and Should I Test My Home for It?
Radon is a radioactive gas that you can’t see or smell. It can get into the air and into homes when uranium in soil, water, and rock naturally breaks down. A few ways radon can enter a home include through cracks in the floors or walls, construction joints, and the water supply.
Across the country, radon poses a serious health risk. Prolonged exposure to radon in the home can cause lung cancer. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing for all homes. Generally, it is inexpensive to test your home for radon, and an initial test can be completed in just a few days. Each state has radon resources that can help you learn more about radon and find radon test kits. To find the resources in your state, click here.
For additional information, visit www.epa.gov/radon.
