Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that's formed during the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon exits the ground and can seep into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon gas can also contaminate well water.

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 when radon levels in the home are high. The only way to find out if your house contains radon gas is to perform radon tests.

EPA Radon Studies

The EPA offers a look at what they believe to be the risks of radon at different concentrations for 1,000 people who smoked and were consistently exposed to a certain level of radon during their lifetimes.

Radon Risks for Smokers

• With exposure to 10 pCi/L, about 71 would get cancer, equal to 100 times the risk of dying in a home fire.

   

• With exposure to 4 pCi/L, about 29 would get cancer, equal to 100 times the risk of dying in a plane crash.

Radon Risks for Non-Smokers:

• With exposure to 8 pCi/L, about 3 would get cancer, equal to 10 times the risk of dying in a plane crash.

   

• With exposure to 4 pCi/L, about 2 would get cancer, equal to the risk of drowning.

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.