RADON

Everyone should have their home tested for one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the country: indoor radon gas. In some areas of the country, as many as one out of two homes has high levels of radon. Radon levels can soar during the colder months when residents keep windows and doors closed and spend more time indoors. 

"Twenty-two thousand people die from lung cancer each year in the United States from exposure to indoor radon". "Yet Americans could help prevent these deaths and protect their families by testing their homes for radon as soon as possible."  Christine Todd Whitman, Former EPA Administrator

	Zone 1	Tennessee Radon Map Highest Potential (greater than 4 pCi/L)
	Zone 2	Moderate Potential (from 2 to 4 pCi/L)
	Zone 3	Low Potential (less than 2 pCi/L)

What is the average level of radon in homes?

Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is 1.3 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) in the United States. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.

Links

EPA
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/

Dept. of Environment & Conservation
www.state.tn.us/environment
401 Church Street
21st Floor, L&C Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
1-888-891-TDEC (1-888-891-8332)

Radon:
Dept. of Environment & Conservation
Division of Air Pollution Control
Radon Program
www.state.tn.us/environment/apc/radon/
Nashville Environmental Assistance Center
711 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216

TN's toll-free radon hot line:
1-800-232-1139
Fax:  (615) 687-7072
Email address: TDEC.Radon@state.tn.us
1-800-232-1139/(615) 299-9725
Ask to speak to the environmental coordinator to receive information about radon at - 1-888-891-8332

Radon Unit of Measurement

Pico Curie per Liter (pCi/L)
A pico (p) Curie (Ci) is a measure of radioactivity.  "Pico" means one-trillionth, so a pico Curie (pCi) is one-trillionth of a curie.  One Curie is equal to 3.7 x 10¹⁰ radioactive disintegrations per second and a pCi is then 3.7 x 10^-2 per second or 2.2 disintegrations per minute.  The measure 4 pCi/L means that the radioactivity in one liter (L) of air (or water) produces 4 x 2.2 disintegrations per minute = 8.8 disintegrations per minute.