Frequently Asked Questions
Radon can seep in from soil anywhere around or under a home, regardless of whether your home has a basement, a crawl space, or is built slab-on-grade. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing for all types of homes at or below the third floor.
Various federal and state agencies have conducted radon surveys in North Carolina. In addition, the EPA has broken the state down into three zones according to their potential for high indoor radon levels, with Zone 1 having the highest radon potential. Homes in Zones 1 and 2 have a statistically higher chance of having elevated levels of radon. However, elevated levels of radon have been found in homes in many counties in North Carolina. The only way to know for sure if you have a radon problem, and to protect your family from radon, is to test your home.
Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same street. It is nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of geologic soil deposits and the extent to which soil gasses will seep into and be retained by a specific house. The only way to know whether radon exists in elevated levels in your home, and to protect your family from radon, is to test.
The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before have we had such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. In February of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented the findings of their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by the NAS is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem. The study fully supports U.S. EPA estimates that radon causes about 15,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
Testing is as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in your home in a designated area, and, after the prescribed number of days, sealing the detector back in the package and mailing it to a lab. The whole process only takes a few minutes of your time!
"My first test result
is greater than 4 pCi/L, what do I do now?
If your first
testing of your home was with a short term test... and the result is
greater than 4 pCi/L, it is suggested that you perform another radon test
in the same area. If you are in a time crunch (ie: for a real estate
transaction) then perform a short-term test in the same place again.
Then average the results of the 2 tests. If the average is below 4
pCi/L, then continue retesting your home every 2 years. If the
average is above 4 pCi/L, consult with a
certified mitigator regarding your next step. I you have the
time available, it is suggested that you perform a long-term test as your
second test. This test lasts over 91 days and provides an excellent
measurement of the radon concentration in your home because it takes into
account weather fluctuations and radon concentration fluctuations that
occur in your home. If this result is over 4 pCi/L, consult with a
certified mitigator regarding your next
step.
If the first testing of your home was with a long-term test and the result is greater than 4 pCi/L, it is suggested that you perform another radon test in the same area. You can use a short term test. If the results of both tests or the average of both tests are greater than 4 pCi/L, consult with a certified mitigator regarding your next step. If the result is less than 4 pCI/L, continue testing your home every 2 years.
Office (919)571-4141 Fax (919)571-4148 E-mail Us