In the past decade, radon gas has become a more and more significant factor in the buying and selling of property. Studies have shown enough concern over the possibility of long-term health risk, to where the Environmental Protection Agency has set an action level of 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) for levels of concentration of radon gas in the air. The National Academy of Sciences has determined that 12% of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon exposure.
A recent EPA brochure provides a chart giving information on the relative risks of radon exposure when compared to other causes of death in the United States. A sample of this chart is listed below.
| Radon Level | If 1,000 non-smokers were exposed to this level over a lifetime... | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to... | What To Do |
| 20 pCi/L | About 8 people could get lung cancer. | The risk of being killed in a violent crime. | Fix Your Home |
| 8 pCi/L | About 4 people could get lung cancer. | 10 times the chance of being killed in a plane crash. | Fix Your Home |
| 4 pCi/L | About 2 people could get lung cancer. | The risk of drowning. | Fix Your Home |
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Source: A
Citizen's Guide to Radon, 4th Edition, May 2002 - Environmental
Protection Agency
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When calculating the risk for smokers rather than non-smokers only, the numbers get significantly less comfortable.
| Radon Level | If 1,000 smokers were exposed to this level over a lifetime... | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to... | What To Do |
| 20 pCi/L | About 135 people could get lung cancer. | 100 times the risk of drowning. | Fix Your Home |
| 8 pCi/L | About 57 people could get lung cancer. | Fix Your Home | |
| 4 pCi/L | About 29 people could get lung cancer. | 100 times the risk of dying in an airplane crash. | Fix Your Home |
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Source: A
Citizen's Guide to Radon, 4th Edition, May 2002 - Environmental
Protection Agency
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In order to test accurately for the presence and quantity of radon in the air, we use a dual-canister testing kit which is sent to an independent laboratory for evaluation. These tests generally take 48 hours of exposure time, and results are generally available within 24-48 hours after receipt at the lab.
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