28 Jan Radon..What Is It?

WHAT’S THIS I HEAR ABOUT RADON?

Have you listened to the radio lately and heard the commercials about Radon (radioactive gas)?  A little bit scary, right?  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking.  You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but the truth is that radon is everywhere.  Does this mean that your home has dangerous amounts of it?  The answer to that question is NO!  Radon is found in all types of soil and can seep in to our homes through cracks in the foundations, among other ways.  Interestingly, no home will ever test at a 0!

Effective January 1, 2014, the Minnesota Radon Awareness Act required additional disclosure and education be provided to potential home buyers during residential real estate transactions in Minnesota. Before signing a purchase agreement to sell or transfer residential real property, the sellers need to disclose in writing to the buyer any knowledge the seller has of radon concentrations in the dwelling.  Sellers, however, are not required to perform a radon test or have mitigation (when suggested) prior to selling their homes.  That being said, potential buyers are given the opportunity – for an additional fee – to add a radon test to home inspections.  Many buyers are choosing to do this.   Current homeowners can purchase radon test kits at most home improvement stores.  Radon test kits are really very reasonably priced also!

Attached are a couple of really interesting publications that were obtained courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Health.  Read up!  The more you know on Radon the better!

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/rnrealestateweb.pdf

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/rnbrochure.pdf

Hope you find this information helpful!