Radon is an invisible issue in some homes

You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. Homebuyers often don’t understand the importance of testing radon levels. However, radon has been detected in every one of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and about 40% of homes in the state have levels above EPA’s action level value (4 pCi/L).

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agree that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer – following tobacco smoke. Of the 154,000 lung cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S., about 20,000 of them are believed to be due to radon exposure.

DEP recommends that homebuyers test the indoor radon level in any home before they buy.  For those who want to be proactive, homeowners should consider testing their home before they get ready to put it on the market. That way they’ll know the results and if there’s a problem before listing the property.

Many homeowners don’t think about testing for radon in their homes. “One of the reasons is ‘out of sight, out of mind’,” said Robert Lewis, radon division chief at the Bureau of Radiation Protection in DEP. “Because they can’t see it or smell it in the basement, they think everything is okay and they don’t know they have a problem.”

The state doesn’t require radon testing, but that’s the only way to know if the home has higher-than-recommended levels of radon.

“Pennsylvania has some unique geology and we find uranium in the soil and it’s fairly widespread throughout the state,” Lewis said. “Homes are being constructed more energy efficient, which makes the airflow much tighter and can raise the radon levels. We really urge people to test their homes.”

“Just because a home tests at a higher than recommended level, doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed,” he added. “The cost of making the repairs to reduce radon levels depends on how your house was built, but usually the average costs range from $500 to $2,000.”

DEP recommends that homebuyers and/or owners take action on mitigating radon levels if it tests at 4 pCi/L or higher. A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes. They include sealing cracks and openings in the house’s foundation, as well as installing a system that includes a vent pipe and fan.

“You can choose to use a DEP-certified radon-reduction mitigator to reduce the radon level in the house, or you can do the work yourself if you’re handy and know how,” Lewis added. “And once the system is in place, be sure that a post-test is performed to confirm that the previous elevated levels have been reduced.”

Homeowners can purchase radon kits at many of the home supply stores. A list of certified testers, mitigators and laboratories can also be found on DEP’s website at www.dep.pa.gov/radon.