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DID YOU KNOW THAT RADON IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER? ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA), 1 OUT OF EVERY
15 HOMES TESTS HIGH FOR RADON (Average). The HOME
Inspector, LLC offers quality radon testing using the most updated equipment and methods which complies with all EPA guidelines.
Our staff are Radon Measurement Specialists (Certification
# NRSB 5SS0095) and are accredited by the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). For More Information Regarding The Radon Levels In Your Area, Please Click Here: ______________________________________________________
Our NY State Certified Radon Measurement Specialists provide both Active and Passive testing options:
1)
Our professional inspectors use active testing devices known as Continuous Radon Monitors (CRM). These calibrated devices
provide accurate results in 48 hours (with immediate results following the 2 day test).
2) Passive testing can
be conducted using an activated charcoal test kit. After 48 hours (minimum), these must then be sent to a laboratory for reading/verification.
The results can take 7-10 days.
* The cost for either test is between $100 to $150 based on distance from Albany
(Using the Electronic Monitor) or $75 (Using Charcoal Canisters). Discounts apply when combining several of our other services.
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The Following information comes from the Environmental Protection Agency Web site (www.epa.gov)
What is
Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in soil and rock in all parts of the United States. It is formed by the
decay of uranium, which is a natural process. Radon gas is invisible, and it has no odor or taste.
What Types of
Buildings Contain Radon?
Radon may be found in all types of homes and buildings in the United States. If there is radon
gas in the ground, it can seep into a building.
Radon typically moves up from the ground into a home through drains,
cracks or other holes in the foundation. Radon then can be trapped inside the home.
How Does Radon Affect Health?
The EPA has declared radon to be a "Class A Carcinogen". It is the second leading cause of Lung Cancer in the
United States.
The higher the radon level indoors, the greater the amount you breathe. Radon gas decays into radioactive
particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down, these particles release small bursts of
energy. This can damage lung tissue.
Inhaling indoor air containing radon over a period of many years can increase
your risk of getting lung cancer. Your chance of getting lung cancer from radon depends on how much radon is in your home
and how much time you spend in your home. If you are a smoker or a former smoker, the risk of getting lung cancer from radon
is even greater.
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Does Your Home Have High Radon Levels?
You cannot see, smell or taste radon.
Therefore, testing is the only way to determine the radon level in your home.
Has Your Building Been Tested Already?
If the building you live in has been tested properly for radon, then you probably do not need to test for radon yourself.
Before or after you move in to your home (whether you live in a house or apartment building), you can ask the owner if the
building has been tested for radon. If the owner tells you that radon testing has been done already, you can ask for a copy
of the test results. If you have questions about those results, you can call your state radon office for help, or call the
National Radon Helpline at 1-800-557-2366.
If you do not know whether your building has been tested properly for
radon, you can test for radon yourself or ask the owner to test.
EPA Recommends Testing All Homes Below the
Third Floor
Because most indoor radon comes from naturally occurring radon in the soil, high indoor levels are more likely
to exist below the third floor. This is why EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor.
In some cases,
high radon levels have been found at or above the third floor, due to radon movement through elevators or other airshafts
in the building. If your apartment is at or above the third floor and you are concerned about this possibility, you could
also decide to test for radon.
The test should be placed in the lowest level of your home that your family uses
regularly. For example, if you live in a house and you use the basement, place the test device there. Otherwise, use the first
floor. Put the test kit in a room that is used regularly, but NOT in your kitchen or bathroom.
Keep doors and windows
closed as much as possible during the test. Drafts can affect the test results.
What do radon test results mean?
Radon levels are measured in "picocuries per liter" or "pCi/L." The higher the level, the greater the
risk from long-term exposure. EPA recommends that you take action to reduce radon if the radon level in your home is 4 pCi/L
or higher. (This "action level" was set at 4 pCi/L partly because it is technically possible to reduce radon to
4 pCi/L in most homes.)
If you took a short-term test and your results were 4 pCi/L or higher, EPA recommends doing
a second test to confirm the results. You can do this follow-up test yourself, or you can contact the owner about the owner
doing further testing. The Appendix contains an excerpt from EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon, which explains more about follow-up
testing.
If you have questions about what your test results mean, contact The HOME Inspector, LLC at (518)461-9272
or your state radon office.
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