Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the US. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breath. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Any home can have a radon problem. New, old, well seals and drafty homes are all possible. Home right next to each other can have different radon levels. Radon can be mitigated, but not eliminated or guaranteed to remain below EPA recommended levels. From the Surgeon General Health Advisory: Indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this treat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.” January 2005 Radon testing http://www.epa.gov/iaq/states/epa_region9.htmlRegional Offices and R And how can discover if there is, indeed an increase level of Radon gas in your home? You can test it and see. Short-term radon tests remain in a building for two to ninety days. Charcoal canisters, alpha track, electric ion chamber, continuous monitors, and charcoal liquid scintillation detectors are common types of short-term tests. Radon levels change from day to day and season to season. Therefore, short-term test are less likely to indicate the year-round average radon level. ? Long-term radon tests last more than 90 days, and therefore are able to more accurately quantify average radon levels of a home throughout the course of a year. Alpha track and electric detectors are commonly used for long-term tests. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCI/L and outdoor average level is about 0.4 pCi/L The goal set by congress is that the radon levels indoor be no more than the outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below. Building codes in your state or local area may require radon-resistant features. Ask if the new home has such radon-resistant features. Mitigating radon levels may be as easy as installing a vent fan to a passive ventilator system.