Radon — The second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed
and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Studies show that a home's
tightness, foundation type, and soil type have no predictable effect on radon levels.
Homes next door to each other can have very different radon levels. The only way
to find out for a specific home is to test. Click here to see the Minnesota Department of
Health approved list of radon testing companies.
If you're buying or selling a home, radon can be a significant issue. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recommends every house be tested. If a test was already done,
make sure it was recent and that the home has not been renovated since the test. If in doubt,
get a new test.
Radon gas is created when uranium in the soil decays. The gas then seeps into a home through
foundation cracks, block walls, pipe penetrations, drains, sump baskets, or any other unsealed area.
The gas collects in basements and other low-lying, unventilated areas.
The EPA has designated 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) as the level at which to take action.
About 40% of metro area homes have radon levels above 4 pCi/L. The average radon level in
a Minnesota home is 3.8 pCi/L.
The following chart shows estimated deaths per year from radon compared to drunk driving, falls in the
home, and other causes:
* Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002
National Safety Council Reports.
For an EPA map of radon in Minnesota, click here.
For more information visit the U.S. EPA website on radon.
Or, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed
and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Studies show that a home's
tightness, foundation type, and soil type have no predictable effect on radon levels.
Homes next door to each other can have very different radon levels. The only way
to find out for a specific home is to test. Click here to see the Minnesota Department of
Health approved list of radon testing companies.
If you're buying or selling a home, radon can be a significant issue. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recommends every house be tested. If a test was already done,
make sure it was recent and that the home has not been renovated since the test. If in doubt,
get a new test.
Radon gas is created when uranium in the soil decays. The gas then seeps into a home through
foundation cracks, block walls, pipe penetrations, drains, sump baskets, or any other unsealed area.
The gas collects in basements and other low-lying, unventilated areas.
The EPA has designated 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) as the level at which to take action.
About 40% of metro area homes have radon levels above 4 pCi/L. The average radon level in
a Minnesota home is 3.8 pCi/L.
The following chart shows estimated deaths per year from radon compared to drunk driving, falls in the
home, and other causes:
* Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002
National Safety Council Reports.
For an EPA map of radon in Minnesota, click here.
For more information visit the U.S. EPA website on radon.
Or, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
| National Radon Proficiency Program |
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Radon
