Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in granite, soil, and other rock.  It is odorless, invisible, and tasteless and can only be detected by specialized tests. Radon enters homes from the ground beneath it, and generally through cracks in the foundation, basement walls, sump pump pits, and small openings around pipes.

Radon is a radioactive gas, and like other radioactive materials, decays into other materials (or decay products). Radon and its decay products release radioactive particles that can damage lung tissue and are associated with the incidence of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, resulting in 15,000 to 22,000 deaths per year. Click here for further information from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Radon testing in the home is relatively simple to perform, very cost-effective, and is highly recommended by the EPA. According to the EPA, about 1 in 15 homes across the country has high radon levels, and according to the Maine Department of Human Services Bureau of Health, about 1 in 3 homes in Maine has high levels. Radon levels vary around the country and around each state. Click here to see the EPA National Map of Radon Zones.