Date Published: 10/17/2006 [Source]
Q.
We're buying a new home soon, and we would like one that has a finished basement. Do you think we need a radon test done, or is radon not a problem anymore?
A.
Regardless of where you're located, I recommend you have your home tested for radon, especially if there are living areas below ground. This has become an energy issue because of the implications of reduced airflow in tightly constructed houses. While most researchers feel that cutting down on unwanted airflow in and out of a house doesn't cause indoor air problems, the reduced air infiltration may make problems like radon more serious.
Information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicates that about one of every 15 homes in the country has elevated radon levels, with some areas having more problems than others.
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium. It is found in nearly all soils.