Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas created from natural deposits of uranium and radium in the soil. Radon gas can be drawn into a building and accumulate to concentrations that can increase the potential for contracting lung cancer.
In some rare cases, building materials that contained by-products of uranium processing have been a source of radon in other states; but most of the radon in Arizona homes comes from the natural deposits of uranium commonly found in Arizona soils and rocks. Unlike some other environmental concerns, elevated indoor radon is seldom caused by human intervention.
Radon comes from natural deposits of uranium.
HOW RADON ENTERS THE HOME
Radon concentrations are typically the highest in the lowest occupiable portion of a home.
Radon enters a building through its foundation, basement, crawlspace, or slab floor. As the radon rises inside the building, it is diluted with air that leaks through exterior walls and other openings. Consequently, radon levels are typically highest in the lowest portion of the home.
If a test is conducted in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy, with all the exterior doors and windows closed, the home's owner or prospective buyer can be reasonably assured that exposures to radon in upper portions of the home are less than in the lower levels. It can also be assumed the indoor radon exposure would be less when fresh outdoor air is allowed into the home.
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