I tested my home and found a radon level of just under 4 pCi/l.
Is that safe?
Four picocuries per liter of air has been identified by EPA as the recommended action level. There is no absolutely safe level; there is some
level of risk associated with all levels of radon.
EPA's Citizens Guide to Radon contains some comparisons of risk estimates. The brochure is available from your state radon office, the
Helpline (800) 557-2366 and can be viewed at EPA's Radon Publications Web Page
I tested my home and found a radon level higher than 4 pCi/l.
What should I do?
If you tested with a short-term kit, EPA recommends either testing again with another short-term kit and averaging the results of the two tests,
or conducting a longer-term test to confirm the results.
If the high level is confirmed, you should hire an EPA certified mitigator to reduce the radon level in your home. Contact your state radon
office, the Helpline, or browse the Radon Proficiency Program listing on-line, for a list of contractors certified in your state.
What is involved in reducing the radon level in my home?
What will it cost?
Several different methods are used to reduce radon levels in homes. The most common are sealing cracks and openings which prevents the radon
from getting into the home; and reversing the flow of radon entry by pressurizing the home (called subslab depressurization).
In most cases, elevated radon levels can be reduced to between 2 and 4 pCi/l.
Radon reduction is comparable to other home maintenance efforts. If there is a radon problem in a particular residence, it is fixable and
usually for between $500 and $2,500. For more information, and a free copy of EPA's Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction, contact your state radon
office, the Radon Fix-It Hotline (800) 644-6999, or the Radon Helpline (800) 557-2366. The brochure can also be viewed at EPA's Radon Publications Web Page
Should I refuse to buy a house with a radon problem?
Homes with high levels of radon can be fixed. Talk with the seller of the home about having the home mitigated.
Contact your state radon office or the Radon Helpline, (800) 557-2366, for a free copy of EPA's Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon.
The brochure can also be viewed at EPA's Radon Publications Web Page .
What about radon in new homes?
If you are building a new home, you can have your builder incorporate radon-resistant construction techniques into your home. The techniques
add, on average, less than $500.00 to the cost of the home. Many state and local building codes already require these measures to be taken in all new home
construction. For a packet of information, including architectural drawings and instructions to give to your builder, E-mail or call the Radon Helpline at (800)
557-2366.
Is radon a problem in schools?
Schools are at risk from radon just as homes are. EPA recommends that schools nationwide be tested.
For more information about indoor air quality issues in schools, visit EPA's Indoor Air Home Page
For more information, contact a specialist at (800) 557-2366 or send us an E-mail message.
