MYTH: Scientists are not
sure that radon really is a problem.
FACT: Although
some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the
major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with
estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every
year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much
greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is
difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
FACT: Radon
testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified
radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and
effort.
MYTH: Radon testing
devices are not reliable and are difficult to find.
FACT: Reliable
testing devices are available from qualified radon testers and companies.
Reliable testing devices are also available by phone or mail-order, and can be
purchased in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Call your state radon office for help
in identifying radon testing companies.
MYTH: Homes with radon
problems can't be fixed.
FACT: There
are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of
homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Radon levels can
be readily lowered for $800 to $2,500 (with an average cost of $1,200).. Call
your state radon office for
help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects only
certain kinds of homes.
FACT: House
construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in
homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes,
homes with basements, and homes without basements. Local geology,
construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that
can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a
problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: High
radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area
to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
MYTH: A neighbor's test
result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT: It's
not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if
your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should
test their water for radon.
FACT:
Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first
test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes from a public water
supply that uses ground water, call your water supplier. If high radon
levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for information on testing your water.
MYTH: It's difficult to
sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT: Where
radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated.
The added protection is some times a good selling point.
MYTH: I've lived in my
home for so long, it doesn't make sense to take action now.
FACT: You will
reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you've
lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests
can't be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT:A short-term test,
followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your
home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L,
the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or
below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some
risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
*
If the radon test is part of a real estate transaction, the result of two
short-term tests can be used in deciding whether to mitigate. For more
information, see EPA's "Home Buyer's and
Seller's Guide to Radon".
NEVADA on the Map - The purpose of this map is to assist National,
State, and local organizations to target their resources and to implement
radon-resistant building codes. This map is not intended to be used to determine
if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels
of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested
regardless of geographic location. Important points to note:
All homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic location or zone
designation
There are many thousands of individual homes with elevated radon levels in
Zone 2 and 3. Elevated levels can be found in Zone 2 and Zone 3
counties.
All users of the map should carefully review the map documentation for
information on within-county variations in radon potential and supplement the
map with locally available information before making any decisions.
The map is not to be used in lieu of testing during real estate
transactions.
Zone 1 counties have a predicted average
indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones)
Highest Potential
Zone 2 counties have a predicted average
indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)
Moderate Potential
Zone 3 counties have a predicted average
indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)
