Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Don’t let poor IAQ make you sick.   We also perform the following inspections: radon, mold, allergens.

Facts About Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from various rocks, soils, and underground water sources.  Radon forms from the breakdown of the natural elements uranium and radium. One way radon can get into buildings is by cracks in the basement, and if the ventilation is inadequate, radon concentration can be harmful.   Radon can be anywhere, but it matters how much of it is present in relation to other air. If the concentration is high enough, then it can cause harm. In the outside air it is not harmful because radon is present in dilute enough amounts.

Radon is a silent killer.  Since there are no immediate symptoms, people can’t tell if they’re being exposed. And its effects are more hazardous for children than adults.  Because their lungs are smaller and their respiratory rates are twice as high, children are more sensitive to radon. Doctors say that, by the age of 10, a child receives twice the lung dose of an adult who’s been exposed to radon for the same length of time.

Did you know?

• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer
• Nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has a high level of indoor radon
• The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend all homes be tested for radon.
• Homes with high radon levels can be fixed.

For more information on radon call the Radon Hotline at (800) 458-1158 or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at (212) 637-3663, or visit the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon