What is Radon?                      Call  518-505-8305          Delmar, NY 12054        Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the decay of radium in the soil. Radium is also a daughter or progeny nuclide of uranium. Radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible gas that can only be detected through the use of proper equipment and protocols.       Radon is constantly being generated by the radium in rocks, soil, water and materials.derived from rocks and soils, such as certain building materials. radium is a decay product of uranium which is naturally occurring in the soils and rocks of the earth's crust. Uranium is present at about 0.5 to 5 parts per million (PPM) in common rocks and soils. The concentration of radon gas in the soil will be related to the amount of uranium present. However, this is not a good indicator of the level of radon in an individual home. The radon concentration in a home is dependent on the type of soil the home is built on. Cracks, openings and various penetrations in the building foundation will provide the pathway for the radon in the soil to enter the home. The ventilation rate and air flow patterns within a house are important factors that will affect how much radon will be pulled into different areas within the house.       Radon can also be dissolved in ground water and can be introduced into the indoor air through the aeration of well water during its use in washing machines, showers, etc. However in New York State, with a few exceptions, this component is usually relatively small compared to the amount of radon entering the home from the soil. How does Radon affect my health?          Almost all risk from radon comes from breathing air with radon and its decay products. Radon decay products cause lung cancer. There is no safe level of radon, any exposure poses some risk of cancer. In two 1999 reports, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded after an exhaustive review that radon in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after cigarette smoking.The NAS estimated that 15,000-22,000Americans die every year from radon-related lung cancer.  Do I have Radon in my home?       You cannot see, feel, smell, or taste radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing for radon in all rooms below the third floor. What  can I do to protect myself from Radon?       The first step is to test your home for radon, and have it fixed if it is at or above EPA's Action Level of 4 picocuries per liter. You may want to take action if the levels are in the range of 2-4 picocuries per liter. Generally, levels can be brought below 2 pCi/l fairly simple.       The best method for reducing radon in your home will depend on how radon enters your home and the design of your home. For, example, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. There are also systems that remove radon from the crawl space or from beneath the concrete floor or basement slab that are effective at keeping radon from entering your home. These systems are simple and don't require major changes to your home. Other methods may be necessary.       People who have private wells should test their well water to ensure that radon levels meet EPA's newly proposed standard.

Percent of Homes Greater than 4pCl

Call 518-505-8305 To have your home tested

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