This photo shows the Righmeyer House at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which will be rehabilitated with Recovery Act funding to house the refuge's offices. Related to the R5GA Repair Rightmeyer House Back Bay NWR project.
Should I be concerned about radon in my house?
You can get an idea as to how concerned you should be about radon in your house by learning about the geology of the site and its radon potential. If your house is in an area the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows has a high potential for radon, then chances are that your house may have an indoor radon problem. However, the way a house is built can increase the risk - so even in areas of low radon potential, some houses can have unhealthy radon levels.
USGS research on radon has mostly been limited to its presence in groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the best starting point for information about air quality and radon in buildings.
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What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. Radon itself is radioactive and it decays to form the element polonium. Polonium is also radioactive and it is this element, which is produced by radon in the air and in people's lungs, that can hurt lung tissue and cause lung cancer. Radon is ubiquitous (usually in small amounts) in rock and soil and can...
This photo shows the Righmeyer House at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which will be rehabilitated with Recovery Act funding to house the refuge's offices. Related to the R5GA Repair Rightmeyer House Back Bay NWR project.
Evaluation of radon occurrence in groundwater from 16 geologic units in Pennsylvania, 1986–2015, with application to potential radon exposure from groundwater and indoor air
The quality of our nation’s waters: Quality of water from domestic wells in principal aquifers of the United States, 1991–2004— Overview of major findings
Uranium and radon in ground water in the lower Illinois River basin
Naturally occurring radionuclides in the ground water of southeastern Pennsylvania
Radon in the ground water of Chester County, Pennsylvania
Radon in Ground Water in Seven Counties of Wyoming
Radon in ground water of the lower Susquehanna and Potomac River basins
Geologic radon potential of EPA Region 2; New Jersey and New York
Geologic radon potential of EPA Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
Geologic radon potential of EPA Region 9; Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada
Geologic radon potential of EPA Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska
Related Content
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. Radon itself is radioactive and it decays to form the element polonium. Polonium is also radioactive and it is this element, which is produced by radon in the air and in people's lungs, that can hurt lung tissue and cause lung cancer. Radon is ubiquitous (usually in small amounts) in rock and soil and can...
This photo shows the Righmeyer House at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which will be rehabilitated with Recovery Act funding to house the refuge's offices. Related to the R5GA Repair Rightmeyer House Back Bay NWR project.
This photo shows the Righmeyer House at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which will be rehabilitated with Recovery Act funding to house the refuge's offices. Related to the R5GA Repair Rightmeyer House Back Bay NWR project.