What is the Radon action level for my home?

To this end, the US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. At or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas.

What is the Radon action level for lung cancer?

It is estimated that a reduction of radon levels to below 2 pCi/L nationwide would likely reduce the yearly lung cancer deaths attributed to radon by 50%. However, even with an action level of 2.0 pCi/L, the cancer risk presented by radon gas is still hundreds of times greater than the risks allowed for carcinogens in our food and water.

What is the Becquerel unit of radon level measurement?

The Becquerel unit, abbreviated Bq, is named after founder Henri Becquerel. The preferred radon level measurement unit is Becquerels per cubic meter, Bq/m3. One Becquerel equals one radioactive disintegration per second. The best radon level measurement would be zero.

How much radon is in the air outside?

It is upon this national average indoor level that EPA based its estimate of 21,000 radon-related lung cancers a year. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level.

What is the national health advisory on radon?

Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, Releases National Health Advisory on Radon. Dr. Carmona also stressed the need to remedy the problem as soon as possible when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more, noting that more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year.

What is the purpose of the Radon map?

The purpose of these maps are to assist National, State and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes. You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page.