United Statea
           Environmental Protection
           Agency
           EPA402/F-12/005 |  February 2013
       BASIC    RADON    FACTS
 The U.S. Surgeon General recommends ALL homes be tested for radon gas.
Breathing radon in your home can cause lung cancer
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released in rock, soil and water that can build up to
dangerous levels inside any home; this means new and old homes, well sealed and drafty homes, and
homes with or without a basement. Radon gas is odorless and invisible and the only way to know if your
home has a radon problem is to test for it.

Breathing radon can increase your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer
among people who do not smoke. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer for people who do. EPA
estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year in the U.S. If you smoke
and your home has a high  radon level, your risk of lung cancer can increase even more.

Radon has been found in every state
Homes with high levels of radon have been found in every state. In fact, radon levels can vary greatly from
home to home—even levels next door can be very different.

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity. In the United
States, the average indoor radon  level is about 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L. The
U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend fixing
homes with radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L. EPA
also recommends that people think about fixing
their homes for radon levels between 2 pCi/L
and 4 pCi/L.
You should test for radon
Testing your house for radon is easy. If your
house has a radon problem, it can be fixed.
Fixing a radon problem reduces the risk of lung
cancer for you and your family.

A simple test will tell you if your home has a
high radon level. Most radon tests last between
2 and 7 days. It's as easy as opening a package,
and putting the test kit in the right place. After
sending the test kit back to the address in the
package, the company will send your radon test
results in about 2 weeks.
Radon  is a  serious  health
risk. It can  be reduced
easily and cost-effectively.
Take action today.
Encourage your friends
and  family members to
do the  same!

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Many local home improvement or hardware stores sell
test kits. Test kits can be ordered online too.
Sometimes you can get a test kit from your state radon
office. You also can hire a qualified tester to do a radon
test for you. Your state radon program may keep a list
of these professionals.

Kansas State University, under a cooperative agreement
with EPA, provides national radon program services,
including selling radon test kits and answering toll-free
radon hotlines. For more information about radon
testing call 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236) or visit
www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html

You can fix a radon problem
Help is available to fix a radon problem. You can
call your state radon office to find qualified radon
mitigators in your area. Also local  companies with
radon mitigators are in the phone book or online. The cost to reduce radon depends on how your home
was built and how you use it. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home
repairs.

New homes can be built with radon-resistant features
Building new homes with simple and cost-effective radon-resistant features can reduce radon entry.
Contact your builder or visit www.epa.gov/radon/rrnc/index.html for more information.

Every home should be tested before, or soon after, you move in. Even homes built with radon-resistant
construction features should be tested. If high radon levels are found, it is easier and costs less to reduce
radon levels in homes that are built radon-resistant.
How to Get Radon Test Kits
To get an easy-to-use radon test kit, you can:
IEI  Buy a test kit online or at your local home
    improvement or hardware store. Many
    kits are priced under $25.00.
IEI  Order a test kit at www.sosradon.org
    or by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-
    767-7236); customizable radon test kit
    coupons are available too.
IEI  Request a test kit from your state radon
    program, which also  has information on
    radon testing companies and laboratories
                   www.epa.gov/radon/
in your an
   whereyoulive.html
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