By Greg Rosinski, Chemist II
The process of buying residential real estate includes steps to protect the potential buyer. This involves a home inspection to make sure that there are limited amounts of changes needed on the home, and if there is anything of concern an inspector will make the buyer aware of that. One test that is frequently ignored is the testing of Radon. Radon occurs as a result of the breakdown of Uranium in soil, rock, and water. As it breaks down it becomes a dense gas that if exposed to over long periods of time is known to cause cancer. Radon according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the world only second to smoking.
To help protect people from the harmful exposure of radon it is important to pay a professional for the proper testing. The test results need to be less than 4 picocuries per liter according to the EPA to be within be within a livable range. If the test comes back higher than 4 picocuries then it is necessary to install a radon mitigating machine. The cost of a radon mitigation machine is minimal compared to the risks of developing cancer.
