Radon:
RADON AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health both offer extensive information and guidelines with regard to environmental contaminants.
Please educate yourself on the health risks of radon, asbestos, mold and lead. Specifically regarding radon, we suggest you review the information on this page, and explore the links provided.
The Surgeon General has warned that Radon is the second leading cause (second only to smoking) of lung cancer in the United States.
The Radon Potential Map published by the Department of Public Health of the State of Connecticut indicates Fairfield County to be Zone 1: Highest Potential (greater than 4 pCi/L)
EPA Recommends:
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Test your home for radon—it’s easy and inexpensive.
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Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
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Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.
Radon is estimated to cause in excess of twenty thousand
lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.
Radon is a cancer-causing,radioactive gas.
You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon can be found all overthe U.S. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building—homes, offices, and schools—and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time. Youshouldtestforradon. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
RADON MEASUREMENT:
We are a member of:
The American Association of Radon Scientists (AARST)
& Certified as a Residential Measurement Provider by:
National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP); #109776 RT &
National Radon Safety Board (NRSB); #22SS013
The most common protocol for Real Estate Transactions is passive short-term measurement. We use two devices exposed at the same location for a minimum of 48 hours. Test devices must be properly placed, closed-building conditions maintained, and the devices not disturbed for the duration of the test.
We use RTCA (Radon Testing Corporation of America) charcoal canister test kits and a local laboratory for analysis and fast turnaround - we usually send a report to the client by the next business day after the canisters are removed.
For a more thorough evaluation, we also do long term radon measurement using RTCA Electret Ionization Chambers;
Long term measurement is for a period of 90 days to one year.
Radon measurement may be provided concurrently with a Home Inspection, or ordered as a standalone inspection.
From the State of Connecticut Separtment of Public Health:
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas. Testing is the only way to find out if your home has elevated radon levels. The DPH Radon Program recommends that Connecticut residents throughout the state test the air in their homes for radon. There are several different types of devices that measure radon in air and water. There are short-term devices that measure for 2-90 days (usually 2-7 days) and long-term devices that measure for 90 days to one year. You have the option of hiring a professional to test for radon in your home. The CT DPH list of Nationally Certified Measurement Professionals includes individuals who are certified by one of the two nationally certifying agencies: AARST-NRPP or NRSB. In addition, many local health departments and districts provide free or discounted radon in air testing devices.
If you are buying or selling a house;
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Radon tests are often a part of a real estate transaction.
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Requirements for radon testing and/or disclosure of radon levels may be required by law in your area.
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EPA’s booklet Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon can help identify and address buyer, seller and real estate agent concerns.
Click on the links below to find out more about radon in homes:
