Radon gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. It could be present in your home, office, business or even school without anyone being aware of it. It is important for the public to become more informed on radon gas. Keep in mind:

1. Testing or monitoring is the only way to determine the presence of radon gas.
2. You should know the acceptable level of radon gas in the air and water in and around your property.
3. Radon remediation is necessary if levels exceed the standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been linked to cancer and poses a real health risk at elevated levels.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase a radon test kit for home and professional use to determine radon levels

There are many sites that offer kits for radon testing for your home or business. Many provide information on radon gas and how to properly use the test kits.

I recommend: Air Chek, Inc. has a whole website full of useful information about radon gas. They offer radon test kits for professionals and home use. They also offer a video instruction guide that walks you through the testing procedure. Pro Lab also provides kits for radon testing in gas and water. RadonZone.com has a wide variety to choose from, including short-term and long-term radon test kits. The website also lists the EPA's recommendations.

Find a radon gas detector for home or business use

A radon gas detector can be helpful to determine if radon gas becomes present in a structure, just like a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector. It may also be used to monitor a home or building that tested positive for radon gas to determine if radon levels are rising.

I recommend: RadonAmerica.com offers professional radon gas detector monitors available for renting. To purchase a radon gas detector, check out RadonZone.com. For continuous radon testing for the air, as well as test kits, HomeRadonTest.com has it all.

Know how to remove radon gas if levels are too high in the air or water

Once your home or building has been tested or is being monitored for radon gas, removal may be necessary to prevent health risks. You can get equipment to remove the radon yourself from the air or water. There are also professionals in radon mitigation that can remove the radon for you.

I recommend: RadonWorld.com offers radon removal equipment for radon in the water and in the air. Novion Inc. provides a sealant that not only waterproofs your basement, but also prevents radon gas from seeping through cement. ServiceMagic, Inc. provides resources for radon removal, as well as a multitude of other home improvement projects. Just type in your zip code on the home page, and the site will link you to companies in your area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your state or local health department. They may offer information on test kits for radon gas.
• •  If you wish to have a professional remove radon or conduct a radon inspection, make sure to research companies that provide radon mitigation.
• •  The Environmental Protection Agency has information on the dangers of radon gas and the proper testing technique.
• •  Both the EPA and the Surgeon General estimate that radon poisoning is responsible for over 20,000 cases of lung cancer per year.