What Is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that forms naturally from uranium and radium breaking down in soil and rock. Because soil is porous, radon rises up from the ground and can accumulate inside homes — becoming a serious health hazard over time.
Minnesota has a particularly serious radon problem. The average radon level here is more than three times the U.S. average, due to our geology and the fact that Minnesota homes are closed up and heated for most of the year. More than 2 in 5 Minnesota homes have radon levels that pose a significant health risk.
Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause overall. An estimated 21,000 Americans die from radon-related lung cancer each year. The EPA action level is 4 pCi/L — MDH recommends mitigation at or above this level. Risk increases with higher levels and longer exposure. Smokers face dramatically higher combined risk.
Radon enters through openings between the soil and your home's foundation — cracks in concrete slabs, floor-wall joints, open sump pits, and crawl spaces. Any home type can have a radon problem regardless of age or foundation type: basement, slab-on-grade, crawl space, or manufactured home.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health
A radon test is the only way to know your home's radon level. Testing is simple, inexpensive, and can be done quickly. If levels are high, a mitigation system can reduce radon significantly. Source: Minnesota Department of Health (health.state.mn.us)