What's so Bad about Radon?

Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking. Radon is invisible, odorless, and tasteless — making it impossible to detect without specialized equipment. Approximately 18,000 lung cancer deaths related to radon occur in the United States every year, and it's estimated that 1 in 15 homes has radon levels above the thresholds recommended by the EPA.

What Exactly Is Radon?

Radon is a chemical element (Rn) and a member of the noble gases. It is radioactive, and so can cause damage to the DNA of a living cell. Radon is naturally produced from the radioactive breakdown of uranium, thorium, and radium.

While radon is present around the world, it can be especially troublesome in certain regions where there are high concentrations of uranium in the ground, such as specific areas in New England and northern regions of the United States. For more information, check out the official EPA page on radon.

What Can You Do about Radon?

The first step to protect yourself and your family is to check the concentration of radon in the home. I provide radon tests using specialized equipment to give you an accurate measurement of radon concentration levels. If the radon measurement is greater than 4 picocuries per liter, then it is recommended that you install a radon mitigation system. The most common radon mitigation systems use a fan to pull in radon from beneath the house, and vent it outdoors where it is quickly diluted to safe levels.

Radon Testing in Central Maryland

Inside Out Home Inspector provides radon testing in Central Maryland including Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Columbia, Laurel, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Bowie, Sykesville, Eldersburg, Silver Spring, Crofton, Gambrills, and Clarksville. Not sure if that's you? Give me a call at (443) 559-7028 or send me an email.

The only way to know whether or not radon poses a danger to you and your family is to have a radon test performed by a certified inspector. Schedule your test now or give me a call at (443) 559-7028.