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Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that has been shown to cause
lung cancer in humans. Radon gas exists naturally in soil - it is created as
various elements of earth decompose. Therefore, it is often found in the
basements of homes, entering through fissures, and it can also be present in
upper floors.
According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to
radon gas ranks second to cigarette smoking as a cause for lung cancer. Other
scientists dispute that a link between illness and home-based radon has ever
been reliably established.
But whether or not the gas is posing a threat to your health, increasing
number of home-buyers are asking that a home be tested for radon before
they agree to purchase. Most sale contracts have a contingency for radon
testing.
There are professional companies that can inspect your home for the presence
of radon. If the gas is found in amounts that exceed guidelines established by
the EPA for acceptable levels of radon, there are also companies that can
recommend ways to reduce the interior radon concentrations to levels within
the EPA's guidelines.
Radon levels are measured in picocuries, a unit of measurement for
radioactive gases. Under EPA guidelines, 4 picocuries of radon per liter of
indoor air is the "action level," meaning something should be done to reduce
the presence of radon at the affected location. If you get an initial reading of
more than 4 picocuries per liter you should consider having another test
done. Experts say radon tests can be inaccurate, so you may want to double-check the levels before you undertake installation of a radon-abatement
system.
If a buyer wants a radon test, ask that he or she give you a copy of the results
at no cost. If repairs are necessary to reduce radon, make sure the
contingency you've agreed to with the buyer has a ceiling on how much
money you have to spend to fix the problem.
You may want to have your house tested before you put it on the market. If
you have no radon problem, you can provide certification of this to potential
buyers. If there is a problem, you can either take steps to solve it, or wait and
negotiate with the buyer about who will pay for the fix.
Mitigating the levels of radon in your home usually involves installing a fan-
type apparatus that will suction the gas from under your home's foundation
or elsewhere and carry it outdoors where it can dissipate. Other systems
involve forcing fresh air under your house so that the radon will be channeled
out, or installing a filtration devices throughout the house.
For more information on radon, you may want to read some of the materials
on a web site called www.Radon.com and others. |