What is radon?
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Radon is everywhere. Although radon can sometimes enter your home through well water, the main cause of radon problems is through soil gas. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation, trapping radon inside, where it can build up over time.
Any home, no matter the age or condition, may have radon problems.
Radon is radioactive and, like arsenic and asbestos, a Class A carcinogen. After smoking, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US and responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths every year. Smokers with elevated home radon levels are at especially high risk for radon-induced lung cancer. The EPA recommends mitigation if the radon level in your home is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher.
