Our Review of
EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
Health Advisory

On this page: The Surgeon General of the United States says, "Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from Radon," according to the EPA Guide.

Our Thoughts

We are not not sure why the Surgeon General recommended testing below the third floor, because homes can have higher Radon levels in higher stories due to the stack effect pulling Radon up vertically through floors. Perhaps the recommendation is because Radon is found more often in basements. However, any particular home may vary, just as you can not rely on the results of tests from other nearby homes. Each property is unique and may have widely different Radon levels.

U.S. Surgeon General Health Advisory does include heartening statements though, such as the statement that the health threat of Radon, "is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques." That's a quote from as far back as January 2005, so this is not new or novel information.

"You cannot predict Radon levels based on state, local, and neighborhood Radon measurements. Do not rely on Radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the Radon level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different indoor Radon levels. Testing is the only way to find out what your home's Radon level is."

This series is provided to inform about Radon at Lake Tahoe and beyond. On each page, you can view more by clicking on one of the navigation links below.

Home Air Quality Monitors

A Radon detector is only one home monitor that you can use to check the indoor air quality of your home at Lake Tahoe and beyond. Here's a handy link to home air quality monitors and other air quality products.

Navigation: More Radon Information