MEASURING RADON How is radon measured and what levels are "too high"? Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. No level of radon is considered absolutely safe. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that action be taken to reduce radon levels if the annual average is 4 pCi/L or higher. How do you test for radon? Testing for radon is simple and takes only a few minutes of your time. Radon test kits are available through the mail and from hardware stores and other retail outlets for about $10 - $25. Radon test kits are placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home and left for the specified period of time. After that time, the kit is sent to the laboratory for analysis. Because radon levels vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell your year-round average radon level. If the result of a short-term test is 4pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test to verify results before fixing your home. Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test. There are also qualified contractors who can conduct radon tests. Choose a radon contractor who is EPA-listed. Learn more at http://www.nsc.org/safetyhealth/Pages/EPA21,000dieannuallyfromradonexposure_1.7.11.aspx#.UHSBp1GJ2ZQ.

Acknowledgments:
Environmental Protection Agency