Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed by the breakdown of uranium found in soil, rock, and water below your home. Radon gas moves up through the soil and into the home's living spaces through cracks or openings in the foundation. In its natural state, it is odorless and colorless and the only way to know its level, in a home, is to have it tested. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
The Surgeon General and the American Lung Association recommend that all homes be tested for radon. According to estimates, Eastern Nebraska and Iowa have some of the highest levels of radon in the country in more than 50% of the homes tested. Average radon levels in this area that have been tested are approximately 5.7 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The EPA recommends that homes with radon levels of 4.0 pCV L or higher be fixed to reduce these levels.
If your home is found to have high levels of radon, it can be corrected by utilizing a sub-slab mitigation system with a continuous running fan that pressurizes the soil below the home and then directs it up through a pipe system to the outside. State-licensed contractors who install these systems guarantee that the installation reduces these readings to a safe level.