Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.

Radon’s presence in your home can pose a danger to your family’s health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually.

The U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend that all homes be tested for the presence and accumulation of radon gas. You can fix a radon problem by installing a radon reduction system in your home.

Test Your Home for Radon

The Radon Section of the New York State Department of Health website is a good source of information about radon. Free radon information packets are available upon request, and they sell short-term radon detection canisters — excellent for preliminary screening — for only $11 each. Call the toll-free Radon Hotline (800-458-1158) to learn more, or order short term charcoal canisters by printing this Adobe Acrobat PDF form, filling it out and returning it with $11 per detector ordered.