FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does radon enter your home?
Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or
taste. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all
soils. Radon enters your home through cracks and holes in the foundation.
Your home traps the radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a
radon problem. Homes that are old or new may have elevated radon levels, even
homes without a basement.
Why is radon a health hazard?
Radon gas collects in buildings and forms radon decay
products which mostly attach to dust particles in the air. Inhalation of these
radon decay products results in the deposit of radiation energy (alpha
particles) in surface tissues of the lung. Radon inhalation is the largest source of
radiation dose to an average person; radon is a known cause of lung cancer
in humans. In the U.S., radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to
smoking The EPA estimates that radon causes more than 21,000 cancer
deaths in the U.S. each year.
How can I schedule a test with Sloan Radon Testing, and what is the estimated cost?
Simply
click the 'Request a Test' tab in the navigation bar at the top, or click
here.
Once the testing information is filled out, just
click the 'Submit to Sloan Radon'
button to e-mail your request to us. We will then call you to confirm test schedule times.
The
average cost for a 48 hour certified radon test is $130 - $150 depending on distance from the Cedar Rapids area.
What type of equipment do you use to test a home?
Sloan Radon Testing uses Sun Nuclear Continuous Radon
Monitors to measure the concentration of radon. The continuous radon monitor
will measure the level of radon during the test in hourly intervals. The monitor will
specifically calculate the average radon level for the duration of the testing period.
What should I do if my home or business tests high for radon?
If your home test results show an average radon level of 4.0 pCi/L or above, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you take steps to
decrease the radon level below 4.0 pCi/L. You can do this by having a radon reduction
system installed by an Iowa state certified mitigation contractor.
Where can I find more information on radon?
The Iowa Department of Public Health, along with the
Environmental Protection Agency, have informational radon websites.
