Certified Radon

Raise Your Radon IQ & Lower the Risk of High Radon Exposure

Raise Your Radon IQ

We’ve built our company on facts, not fear.

At Certified Radon, our primary objective is to educate you about the risks of radon and the long-term effects of prolonged radon exposure and then guide you through the steps to make your home a safe environment for your family, friends, and you.

Do not feel like you are alone when asking questions about radon.

A survey conducted in 2015 says that:

  • 59% of Americans are aware that radon causes cancer.
  • 22% of US homeowners we surveyed monitor radon at home.
  • 35% of the American population is concerned about carbon monoxide, and only 15% worry about radon exposure.
    Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates radon causes 21,000 deaths per year from lung cancer.

Get ready to Raise Your Radon IQ & Lower the Risk of High Radon Exposure.

What is an unhealthy level of radon?

The best way to answer this question is to address an acceptable radon level within an enclosed space. The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that the national average of outside radon levels is 0.4 pCi/L.  

Radon Act 51 passed by Congress set the natural outdoor level of radon gas (0.4 pCi/L) as the target radon level for indoor radon levels.

Levels of 4 pCi/L and higher are considered hazardous.

To this end, the United States EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L, meaning any level at or above 4 pCi/L in an inhabitable and enclosed space should undergo corrective measures to reduce exposure to radon gas.

Is it okay to live in a house with radon?

If you refer to the first question, “What is an unhealthy radon level,” this will be a great place to start.

How do I know what the radon levels are in my home?

The only way to know whether there are unsafe radon levels in your home or other building is to conduct a radon test.

Certified Radon offers long-term and short-term radon testing solutions conducted by a skilled Certified Radon technician to ensure accuracy. All Certified Radon technicians are professionally trained to maintain the highest industry standards and deliver accurate measurement results.

What are the symptoms of high radon levels?

You cannot see, smell or taste radon gas.  Even if you are breathing in a high level of radon, there are no apparent signs. Instead, exposure to high levels of radon over time puts you at risk of developing lung cancer and if you smoke, this can put you at an even higher risk.

The CDC says, “The primary adverse health effect of exposure to increased levels of radon is lung cancer. For lung cancer to develop may take years. For smokers, exposure to elevated radon levels increases already heightened lung cancer risk.”

What radon level causes cancer?

The first step to take when addressing radon in your home is to test for radon.

Figure 2. Part 2
Radon level If 1,000 people who did not smoke were exposed to this level over a lifetime…* WHAT TO DO: Avoid smoke and…
20 pCi/L About 36 persons could get lung cancer Seek radon mitigation.
10 pCi/L About 18 persons could get lung cancer Seek radon mitigation.
8 pCi/L About 15 persons could get lung cancer Seek radon mitigation.
4 pCi/L About 7 persons could get lung cancer Seek radon mitigation.
2 pCi/L About 4 persons could get lung cancer Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L
1.3 pCi/L About 2 persons could get lung cancer (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult)
0.4 pCi/L On average, fewer than 1 person (0.7) could get lung cancer (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult)
0 pCi/L Calculated absence of risk Impossible to accomplish. The lowest feasible level equals outside background.

Can HEPA air purifiers remove radon?

Unfortunately, HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters aren’t made to deal with gasses, they can only capture particles is are solids. While radon might get stuck to some of the particles that your HEPA filter captures, the filter itself can’t capture the radon indefinitely.
Radon cannot be removed by an air cleaner unless disturbed and re-suspended in the air. Air cleaners that do not contain special media, such as activated carbon or alumina, will not remove gaseous pollutants, including radon, or reduce their associated health effects.
Further testing is necessary to determine whether air cleaners that contain activated carbon or alumina are effective in reducing health risks from radon. For proper treatment, you must go for radon reduction systems. However, for daily usage, you can consider air purifiers.

Where is the home is radon most common?

The primary source of indoor radon is radon gas infiltration from the soil. Rock and soil produce radon gas. Basements and crawl spaces allow more opportunity for entry of radon gas from the soil as the air tends to be at a lower pressure than the soil gases under the slab.

Can opening windows reduce radon levels?

Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Homes tend to have lower air pressure than their surroundings, which draws radon into the basement.