What is the maximum permissible radon gas level in a private property?
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that arises naturally within the ground from the decay of radioactive elements. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The “action level” for home exposure is 4 picocuries of radion per liter of air (4 pCi/L). According to the US EPA, the average radon level in American homes is 1.25 pCi/L, and 6 million homes have levels of 4 pCi/L and above. Radon levels are not regulated; that is, there is no requirement for mitigation after a certain level is reached. State and local health departments commonly have programs, however, to reduce radon deaths by increasing awareness through outreach and education, promoting testing for radon, and using radon-resistant techniques in new construction. Contact your state or local health department to see if free testing is available. For more information, including maps of radon zones, go the the US EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html.
