RADON… WHAT EVERY HOME BUYER SHOULD KNOW!
Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless and colorless gas which is a byproduct of the nuclear decay of Uranium entrapped in the earth’s soil and rock formations.
In Tennessee this is typically Granite. Radon Gas is in the environment throughout the world and has a tendency to collect within building structures. Radon Gas can collect in homes of any foundation design (Basement, Crawlspace & Slab) regardless of the age of construction. The EPA recommends that all homes be tested for Radon Concentration Levels. This is typically performed at the time of sale.
The decay products of Radon Gas are radioactive particles which, when inhaled over a period of time, can induce Lung Cancer. The World Health Organization believes that in 2003 alone, over 22,000 people within the United States died of Lung Cancer related to Radon Gas. This makes it the second leading cause of Lung Cancer after smoking (which includes second hand smoke).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates Middle Tennessee Area as a Level 1, which has the potential for some of the highest levels of Radon Gas within the United States. High
concentrations of Radon Gas can be found throughout Middle and East Tennessee.
An elevated level of Radon Gas can typically be brought to an acceptable level within a very short
timeframe when the mitigation is properly performed by a National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Certified Mitigation Company.
For more information concerning radon and mitigation programs visit:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html