What is Radon?
Radon is an colorless, oderless, tasteless gas that is emitted from the ground naturally as a result of decaying radium from uranium. Radon was first discovered in 1900 by Friedrich Ernst Dorn a physicist. Radon gas seeping from the ground can accumulate in homes and buildings particularly in basements and other confined space areas such as crawl spaces under houses. Radon gas has been linked to lung cancer as a result of breathing in excessive quantities of the contaminated air. The Environmental Protection Agency places radon second to cigarette smoking for contributing to lung cancer and the 6th. leading cause of cancer deaths as a whole. Annually, 21,000 people in the United States die as a result of radon induced lung cancer. Radon gas in non-combustible, non-flammable and can sometimes be found in water.

 
Why Test for Radon?
Because radon is an oderless, colorless and tasteless gas it can not be detected by human senses alone. It is one of the heaviest known gases at 8 times the surface density of the Earth's atmosphere. Because of this radon has the tendency to collect in lower level living areas in concentrated levels. In an unventilated, confined area radon may rise to an unhealthy, hazardous level if not vented. These levels may vary from room to room depending on factors such as location, ventilation and elevation. To protect the occupents from exposure to high radon levels the areas in question should be tested by a certified radon Inspector.