Radon is a colorless gas with no smell. Radon gas is produced by the natural spontaneous process of radioactive decay of the element radium, and that gas surpasses smoking as the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
This is the map of radon levels measured in Maryland between 2005 and 2016 from the Maryland Department of Health Radon page. You cannot know the level of radon in your home without a radon test. The average indoor radon concentration is 1.3 pCi/l of air. The EPA has identified levels of 4.0 pCi/l of air as the threshold for action and recommends that home with levels between 2pCi/l and 3.9 pCi/l consider implementing a radon mitigation system.
Common Radon Entry Points There are four main factors that permit radon to seep into homes. All homes have some type of radon-entry pathway.
Common radon-entry pathways include
Uranium is present in the soil nearly everywhere in the United States
The soil is permeable enough to allow radon to migrate into a home through the slab, basement or crawlspace
The basement, such as small holes, cracks, plumbing penetrations and sump pumps
A difference in air pressure between the basement or crawlspace and the surrounding soil draws radon into the home
Radon enters through
Cracks in otherwise solid floors
Gaps in suspended floors
Cracks in walls
Cavities inside walls
Gaps around service pipes
Construction joints, and
The water supply
Radon levels are easily reduceable with the installation of Radon Mitigation systems.
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