Radon

Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas created from natural deposits of uranium and radium in the soil. Radon gas can be drawn into a building and accumulate to concentrations that can increase the potential for contracting lung cancer. 

– Radon is regarded as a Group A carcinogen; it is known to cause cancer in humans with prolonged exposure. Many buyers are concerned about their health risk, as well as property resale value and want to test for and correct radon concerns.

– The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Surgeon General recommend that people not have long-term exposures in excess of 4.0 pico Curies per liter (pCi/L).

– The only means to determine the exposure levels in a home is to measure for Radon. 

– A short-term radon test, which is the most typical type of test, is conducted for a minimum of 48 hours
– The radon detector is set in the lowest living space in the home that could be occupied or lived in
– All the windows of the home are closed during the test and must remain closed during the testing process
– Various types of radon detection devices are available, although most home inspectors utilize an electronic detector called a Continuous-Radon-Monitor. 

• Considerable research has been conducted by governmental agencies and private industry within the state of New Mexico to help develop techniques for properly mitigating radon in homes. The techniques are straightforward, reliable and typically can be done in one day by a qualified contractor.
• Radon is mitigated by installing a system that withdraws the radon-laden soil gas from beneath the foundation and exhausts it outside of the building, far enough away from windows and other openings that it will not re-enter.
• A reduction system typically consists of a plastic pipe connected to the soil either through a hole in the slab, via a sump lid connection, or access beneath a plastic sheet in a crawl space.
• Attached to the pipe is a quiet, continuously operating fan that discharges the radon outdoors.