Safe Homes Begin with Radon Testing

• Radon is a naturally occurring gas that cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.

• Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking.

• See EPA - Radon for more information.

Air Radon levels are high in Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties.

See Maryland Radon Facts for more information.

• Testing your home for Radon is a proactive step to ensure a healthy living environment.

• Prolonged exposure to high levels of Radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

• The only way to detect Radon is through testing

• Radon levels vary, even if your neighbor has low levels, your home's levels may be high

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• Radon comes from soil and rocks

  • Soil Gas Infiltration: Radon is produced from the natural decay of uranium found in soil and rocks. It moves through the ground and can seep into buildings through cracks and openings.

  • Bedrock: Certain types of bedrock, such as granite, contain higher concentrations of uranium and can be significant sources of radon.

• See World Health Organization - Radon for more information.

• Cracks in solid floors: Radon can enter through cracks in concrete floors, which are common in basements and foundations.

• Construction joints: The joints between different sections of a foundation or between the foundation and the walls can provide pathways for radon

• Cracks in the walls: Both basement and ground-level walls with cracks can allow radon to seep into a home.

• Gaps in suspended floors: Homes with crawl spaces or suspended floors can have gaps that allow radon to enter from the soil beneath.

• Gaps around service pipes: Opening around plumbing, electrical wiring, and other service pipes that penetrate the foundation can be entry points for radon.

• Cavities inside walls: Wall cavities can act as channels for radon to move into living spaces of a house.

• Water Supply: Radon can dissolve into groundwater and enter homes thorough well water used for drinking, cooking, and bathing. This is more common in areas with high radon levels in groundwater.

• ​See EPA - Radon for more information.

• Air pressure differences: Differences in air pressure between the inside of a house and the surrounding soil can draw radon in. This is often due to:

  • The Stack Effect: Warm air rising inside a building can create lower pressure at the base, drawing in radon from the soil.

  • Vacuum Effect: Exhaust fans, fireplaces, and other appliances can lower the air pressure inside the house, pulling in radon from the ground below.

• Permeability of soil: Loose porous soils allow radon to move more easily compared to dense, compacted soils.

• Building design and construction: The design and construction of a house, including its foundation type and the presence of basements or crawl spaces, influence how radon can enter.

• See A Citizen's Guide to Radon (EPA) for more information

To reduce radon levels in a home, mitigation strategies can be employed, such as:

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• Select a Certified Radon Mitigation Contractor.

• Sealing cracks and gaps: Reducing radon entry points by sealing cracks in floors and walls

• Ventilation systems: Installing ventilation systems, such as a sub-slab depressurization system, which uses a fan and vent pipe to draw radon from beneath the house and release it outside

• Home testing: Regular radon testing to monitor levels and take action if necessary

• See Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction How to Fix Your Home (EPA) For more information