General Radon Information

What is radon?

• Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that releases radiation as it decays. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and is estimated to cause over 20,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Radon has been found in every state in the US and the EPA recommends that all homes be tested.
• For more info from the EPA:
  • EPA Radon Guide for Tenants
  • EPA Radon Home Page
  • EPA Radon (Español)
  • EPA’s Citizen’s Guide to Radon
  • EPA’s Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon
  • EPA’s Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction

How dangerous is radon?

• The EPA estimated that over 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and is especially dangerous to smokers. Radon is found in every state, so it’s definitely a good idea to test!
• Click here to see radon risk charts for different levels of radon for smokers and non-smokers.
• More resources can be found here:
  • Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon
  • Citizen’s Guide to Radon
  • Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction

What amount of radon is safe?

Unfortunately, no level of radon is considered safe. The EPA recommends that any level above 4.0 pCi/L be reduced. However, other environmental organizations have set their action level lower; the World Health Organization recommends that any level above 2.7 pCi/L be reduced.  The EPA provides useful information by county. We also recommend speaking with officials in your state for the latest information and guidance.

Which type of radon test should I choose?

LabTech Radon OK test kit provides an accurate short term test, especially useful for preliminary and exploratory testing. If your Radon OK test produced radon levels above 2.0 pCi/L, a long term test may be warranted. At this time LabTech does not offer a long term Radon test kit.

Radon gas is created by the decay of uranium and sometimes gets trapped in underground water reserves and aquifers at high pressure. When this radon-contaminated water leaves your tap the radon gas is released into your home. Because of this, well water sources are the most likely to have radon problems.

Do I need to test for Radon in Water?

In most cases, it is not necessary to test for radon in water. Generally, you should only test your water if you receive a high radon level result from your first Radon OK test. If you receive your water from a municipal supply the chances are very low that you have radon in your water. 

What is the shelf life of my Radon OK Detection Kit?

Radon OK Detection Kit has an indefinite shelf life, as long as the kit remains sealed in its original plastic bag with no damage to the paper side of the kit and it has been stored under normal room temperature conditions.