Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced by the underground decay of uranium. You can’t smell it, taste it or see it but it’s there. Radon is a form of cancer causing ionizing radiation. Outside exposure is not threatening as exposure is minimal. Inside our homes and buildings is a different story. Closed structures act like a vacuum, sucking Radon in and trapping the gas at concentrated levels.

Radon enters the home primary through the “Stack Effect” in which the closed structure acts as a vacuum leveraging cracks in the floors and walls, construction joints, gaps around pipes, wall cavities and/or through the water supply.

Important Facts:

It’s estimated that at least 1 in 7 properties in the Portland/Vancouver Area have radon levels above EPA recommended action levels of 4.0 pCi/L
As many as 50% of the homes in “hot spots” including Alameda Ridge in Portland and Mill Plain in Clark County, Washington have action level Radon exposure
Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
Radon exposure is responsible for more than 20,000 American deaths each year - more than drunk drivers and home fires combined
The Surgeon General and Environmental Protection Agency recommend that all properties be tested for radon
You should test your home every two years
Retest if you’ve recently renovated your home
When purchasing or selling a property you should conduct a Radon inspection
Testing prior to a real estate transaction speeds up the process

Radon: Get The Facts