Radon Resources

Contact: Norman Feldman
(215) 567-4004 ext 101 (Wednesday only)

What is radon?
Radon is a deadly, naturally occuring radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. It is produced by decaying uranium in rocks and soil and is found in various concentrations almost everywhere on earth. You can not see, taste or smell radon.

Where is radon found?
Radon can be found in any home, school, office; any building.  Radon gas emitted into the outdoor air is not a risk. It gets dispersed quickly and mixes with the atmosphere.

Once in your home, radon can accumulate to dangerous and unhealthy levels. Radon comes up through the soil and rocks surrounding your house and seeps through dirt floors, cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains, sump pumps, joints, and hollow block walls. In some cases, well water can be a source of radon.

Is there a safe level of radon?
All radiation exposure, including that from radon is believed to be associated with some health risk, even at very low levels. Therefore, we believe there is really no level of radon at which people are completely without risk.

The only way to know if you you have a problem is to test. Short term testing is the quickest way to determine if a potential problem exists. Charcoal canisters (2-4 days) are currently one of the most common short term testing devices. Long-term testing is the most accurate way to test for radon. Alpha tract detectors (up to one year) are the most common long-term devices.