Radon Testing

Radon is element 86 on the Periodic Table. It is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless, tasteless, radioactive gas produced from the radioactive decay of radium, found in most soils and earthen construction materials. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Radon is certainly more common in the Northern and Northwestern states and testing completed shows those states have a greater percentage of homes reporting higher levels than you would typically find in Georgia. However, that does not change the fact that does have elevated levels of radon.

The primary source of radon gas in your home or business comes from the amount of radium found in the soil beneath your building. The largest source of radium affecting in-door radon levels in Georgia comes from phosphate. Phosphate can be found in our soil in varying quantities throughout Georgia and is widely used in the fertilizer industry.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a radon-free environment. The national average of in-door radon has a level of 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) and the national outdoor average is 0.4 pCi/L. Exposure to radon at any level carries with it some health risk. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends fixing your home if your indoor radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or greater. This information can only be obtained by testing your home.