Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is also radioactive. It is one of the noble gases and by itself is chemically inert. When radon decays, as all radioactive substances do, it releases energy in the form of alpha particles (a free electron) and gamma radiation. It also becomes very chemically active. The amount of energy released can cause cell damage in lung tissue, and can lead to lung cancer. It is a naturally occurring soil gas, which just like all things from nature, means that the amount that may be present in your home can and probably will be different from the amount in your neighbors home.

One misconception that a lot of people have is that if their house is closed up for a long period of time that the radon level will be higher, such as in a house for sale that has been vacant for two or three months. Radon has a radioactive half-life of only 3.8 days - it simply can't build up like carbon monoxide. A brief explanation of half-life is: Say you've got a sealed gallon jar of pure radon gas. In 3.8 days, you'll have half a gallon of radon left. 3.8 days after that you'd have a quart. 3.8 more days and you've got a pint of radon. In realistic terms, anything past 5 half lives, or in the case of radon about 20 days, is termed to have decayed to stability. So why is the radon level in the home remain elevated? Because the radium that is the source of the radon is continually producing more radon - and the radium has a half life that is measured in THOUSANDS of years.

The links below are from the Environmental Protection Agency

(These links will open in a new window when you click on them.)

EPA Citizens Guide to Radon.

EPA Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon

EPA Radon Frequently Asked Questions

Highest Potential (greater than 4 pCi/L) (Radon potential map of Georgia)

Radalink detection device

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