Learn About Radon

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Take a Look at the Information Regarding Radon

Radon is a radioactive, odorless, colorless, tasteless, and chemically inert gas that was first discovered in 1910. Radioactive elements in rocks find their way into the soil as they are worn down over time, and in certain instances, can migrate through soil to enter homes in quantities that are great enough to be a hazard to your health.

For these to instances to occur, there must be a source of radon, permeable soil, and a conduit into your home. Common points of entry include, but are not limited to, porous basement floors/walls, cracks in concrete floors or slabs, and openings around utility accesses. Call us today to learn more.

Certain areas are susceptible to radon accumulation as well:
  • Buildings constructed in areas where the rocks contain higher than average quantities of uranium
  • Buildings that are created over uranium-bearing veins and granite pegmatites
  • Geographic areas containing radium contamination
  • Property in areas that contain high concentrations of radon in the groundwater
  • Residential or commercial buildings built on or constructed with radioactive materials such as uranium mill tailings.
Houses built in other areas of the Piedmont Province, especially those built on the zone of phyllites running through central Montgomery, western Howard, eastern Frederick, and central Carroll Counties, frequently have indoor radon values exceeding the levels considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Most sands and gravels of the Maryland Coastal Plain have been well oxidized, with the majority of the uranium leached out and carried away. Unfortunately, certain Coastal Plain sediments contain uranium-rich phosphate beds which resist oxidation, so homes built on these foundations are at risk for elevated radon values.

Call the team at Affordable Radon Reduction Inc to learn more.
  • What are the risks involved with elevated levels of radon?

    The Surgeon General has warned that radon is a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. Meaning that if you smoke and are exposed to excessive radon levels, your risk is especially high.

  • How do I know if I have a radon problem?

    Testing for radon is the only way to know if you are at risk. Many methods are available to detect radon, but the two most popular with homeowners are the carbon canister and the track etch. These devices are placed in either your basement or your living area for a specific amount of time before being returned to wherever they were purchased for analysis.


    Measurements can also vary with both the location in your house as well as the season, so to get the best assessment, multiple readings should be taken at different times. Readings taken in the basement during the winter are often found to be the highest.

  • What do my test results mean?

    No level of radon exposure is safe. However, if your long-term exposure will average 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends taking action to reduce it. The level of pCi/L measures the rate of radon's radioactive decay, where 1 pCi/L is one trillionth of a curie, 0.037 disintegrations per second, or 2.22 disintegrations per minute.


    Therefore, at 4 pCi/L (the EPA's recommended action level), there will be approximately 12,672 radioactive disintegrations in one liter of air during a 24 hour period.

  • What do I do if I have elevated levels of radon?

    There are many ways to reduce the levels of radon in your home. To find the one that is right for you, you can contact us by e-mail, phone us toll-free, or fill out our online form for a FREE estimate.

We Can Help Keep Your Property Safe From Radon

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(410) 284-8899

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