RADON
WHAT IS IT?
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WHAT IS RADON?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is naturally released from the decay of uranium in soil and rock. There are no direct sensory signs of its presence. The only way to know if your home has high levels is through testing.
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HOW DOES RADON ENTER THE HOME?
Radon enters from the soil, where it is naturally produced, Physical signs of potential entry include cracks in the foundation, walls, floors, gaps in construction joints, and sump pumps. It is also drawn into the house by air pressure differences, created by warm air rising or exhaust fans.
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TESTING METHOD
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TEST​
Radon test measure radioactivity in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Which refers to the amount of radioactivity of radium in a liter of air.
The Unites States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) action level for radon is 4 picocuries per liter of air (4pCi/L), at which point mitigation to reduce radon levels is recommended.
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METHOD
A Charcoal canister with activated charcoal granules inside is placed in the lowest lived-in level of your home for 2 to 7 days
Through passive adsorption, Radon gas is attracted and trapped from the air. It is then sealed and sent to a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) approved lab for an analysis to determine the concentration of radon levels in the air of the home.​
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MITIGATION
​Radon is treated by reducing its concentration in indoor air to safe levels (below 4 pCi/L).
An effective, method is active soil depressurization (ASD), which uses a fan and pipe system creating a vacuum beneath the home, that vents radon gas safely from beneath the foundation to the outdoors, Radon cannot be completely eliminated, but it can be reduced to a safe EPA recommended level which is below 4 pCi/L, with many homes in New Jersey achieving levels below 1 pCi/L.​​
AWARENESS
Radon is present in all of New Jersey's 21 counties with moderate to high radon level zones in the northern and central counties. Approximately 10% of radon tests indicate levels above the EPA's action limit of 4 pCi/L.
Testing for radon in residential properties is strongly recommended, even if levels are within recommended limits.
