The EPA recommends that homes be tested for radon every two years. Most US homeowners don’t test nearly that often, putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
Every two years can sound like a lot, but that recommendation is based on decades of research documenting radon’s extreme variability. Here’s what we know about this invisible, odorless cancer-causing gas:
- Radon levels can vary door to door. A home with high levels of radon can sit right next to one with negligible risk. That’s because radon is emitted by radioactive rocks that may or may not exist under your home. You don’t know until you test.
- Overall, Portland neighborhoods are rated as a high risk of radon. You can view a map of risk level by zip code here, but this map should not be used to substitute for radon testing of individual homes.
- Radon levels by the season. If you tested for radon in the winter last year, it might be good to run another test this summer.
- Ventilation levels affect radon. If you recently air-sealed your home, for example, you might want to test for radon again because it might be accumulating at higher levels than before.
- Retreating to the basement this summer? Test for radon again if you’re planning on spending a lot of time in an area that you don’t normally live in. Radon levels tend to be higher in basements, but your basement may not have been tested the last time.
What’s Wrong with Radon?
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. According to the EPA, 21,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer each year in the U.S.
Testing for radon is the only way to know if it’s present in your home; radon can’t be smelled, tasted, seen, heard or otherwise detected by normal humans! The carcinogenic effects of radon accumulate over months and years, so you probably won’t feel sick right away if radon levels are high.
Radon is a health risk because when it is breathed in, it becomes embedded in lung tissue. There, it gives off radiation, damaging cells and eventually leading to cancer. The effects of radon are compounded by smoking.
There are no routine medical tests that can locate radon in the body, and no treatments for those who have been exposed. The only “cure” here is prevention.
Have we convinced you yet? Head over to our Radon page for more FAQs about radon and radon testing, or just go ahead and schedule your appointment from there. After your 48-hour test, we provide a full report, including recommended actions to mitigate radon from your home.