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Alabama Radon Education Program

Alabama Radon Education Program. Building Radon Out Radon-Resistant New Construction. What is Radon?. Radon is a radioactive gas Formed by natural decay of uranium, a common element present in soil and rock. Radon is in the soil and air everywhere You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it.

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Alabama Radon Education Program

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  1. Alabama Radon Education Program Building Radon OutRadon-Resistant New Construction

  2. What is Radon? • Radon is a radioactive gas • Formed by natural decay of uranium, a common element present in soil and rock • Radon is in the soil and air everywhere • You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. • Radon can be drawn into a building and accumulate to high levels.

  3. Is Radon a Health Risk? • Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. • Radon is a Class A carcinogen • Radon causes 15,000 to 22,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths per year

  4. Is Radon a Health Risk? • As exposure to Radon increases, so does risk for lung cancer. • There is NO SAFE LEVEL -- even levels below 4 pCi/l pose some risk

  5. How Does Radon Enter a House? • Uranium is present in the soil nearly everywhere in the U.S. • An air pressure difference between the basement or crawlspace and the surrounding soil draws radon into the house • The soil is permeable enough to allow radon to migrate into the home through the slab, basement or crawlspace • All homes have radon entry pathways -- such as the basement through small holes, cracks, plumbing penetrations, or sumps

  6. How Does Air Pressure Affect Radon Entry? • Air pressure in a house is generally lower than in the surrounding soil, particularly in the basement and foundation levels. • This difference in pressure causes a house to act like a vacuum, drawing air containing radon and other soil gases in through foundation cracks and other openings.

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