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Triangle Region Office:
(919) 649-2938
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West Region Office:
(919) 413-0879
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| Email: |
PHS@nc.rr.com |
| Hours: |
Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-4pm
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ra·don (ra´don) n. Symbol Rn A colorless, radioactive, inert gaseous element formed by disintegration of radium. Atomic number 86; atomic weight 222; melting point -71°C; boiling point -61.8°C; specific gravity (solid) 4; valence 0; half-life 3.823 days
As a noble gas, radon is colorless, odorless and chemically inert and cannot be detected by human senses. Also, since radon is not chemically reactive with most materials, it will move freely as a gas. Radon has a radiological half-life of 3.8 days, and can move substantial distances from its point of origin.
Radon enters building structures as a soil gas that utilizes existing cracks in concrete floors or walls, open soil in crawl spaces, improperly or poorly sealed floor drains or pipe entry points in floor slabs. Without significant ventilation and air exchange in crawl spaces and under the floor slab (sub slab ventilation), Radon builds up and enters the living spaces of homes and other structures.
Health officials have determined that radon gas is a carcinogen that can cause lung cancer. Studies show that radon is more of a risk to smokers, but nonsmokers have a slightly elevated chance of developing lung cancer, too. The only way to find out if your house contains radon gas is to perform radon tests.
Acceptable Radon Levels
The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, recommends you install a system to reduce radon gas in your home if the level of gas is 4 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
Facts About Radon Gas
- There are no average radon levels for a specific city, state, or region.
- Houses without basements are as much at risk of radon contamination as houses with basements.
- It doesn't matter if your neighbor's radon test was low or high, results for your home may be completely different.
Radon Mitigation for Existing Homes
Your radon mitigation contractor can offer complete details about different types of radon reduction systems and will be in a better position to recommend the "best" system for your house after determining how radon is entering your home. Costs vary, but most systems can be installed for $1,000-$3,000.
Radon Mitigation for New Homes
If you're building a new home, now is the time to install a radon reduction system. The cost is far less than fitting a system after the home is built, and having the system in place will help the home's resale value.
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Triangle Region Office Serves the Following North Carolina Counties:
Cumberland, Wake, Durham, Johnston, Chatham, Orange, Harnett, Lee, Nash, Franklin
West Region Office Serves the Following North Carolina Counties:
Alamance, Randolph, Guilford, Davidson, Forsyth, Davie, Iredell, Alexander, Catawba
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