Tell me about radon
Here is some helpful information on radon, which can be an issue when considering a home for sale or purchase in Middle Tennessee.
EPA estimates that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking.
In 1998, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning about radon and urged Americans to test their homes and to reduce the radon level when necessary. For most Americans, their greatest exposure to radon is in their homes; especially in rooms that are below grade (e.g., basements), rooms that are in contact with the ground and those rooms immediately above them.
Yellow denotes the counties with the least risk. Orange denotes the medium risk, and Red counties are those with the highest risk of radon.
The National Radon Action Month is January, so we would be happy to share with you information on local radon testing companies and radon remediation experts. It is a benefit if you are selling your home that you can say your property has been tested and it shows no risk of radon exposure.