What is Radon? Radon is a gas that comes from decaying radium found in soil that surrounds a home. Radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, yet it's one of the most dangerous indoor pollutants there is, and high levels of exposure can be deadly. Radon enters the home through the basement and is generally distributed throughout the home by way of the heating and cooling system, it doesn't remain in the basement. Radon is measured in pico-curies (pCi/L), and a level of 4.0 or higher is considered unsafe.
Why test for Radon? Radon is second only to cigarette smoke as the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. When breathed in, Radon causes lung damage and cell mutation, and when mutated cells multiply, cancer forms. If you live in a home that measures 4 pCi/L for a year, it's equal to being exposed to the radiation of 200 chest x-rays! Therefor, in order to protect your family from cancer-causing Radon, it's best to have your home (or potential home) tested and, if necessary, have it mitigated.
Home Buyers and Sellers can visit the EPA's Radon Resources for Home Buyers and Sellers or for more information on Radon visit RadonAwareness.org.
Ashley Hamerlinck is a licensed REALTOR® in Illinois and Iowa. For more information email me at ashleyhamerlinck@gmail.com, visit my website www.ashleyhamerlinck.com, or find me on facebook.
