If you own a home or are purchasing a home in GA, you need to be aware of the harmful effects of radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the soil. It is produced when uranium decays and works its way up through the soil into the atmosphere. Granite rock, common in Georgia, can contain significant amounts of uranium. Numerous reference books and Georgia literature have dubbed Stone Mountain as “the largest exposed piece of granite in the world", hence the greater concern about radon in GA.

Why should you be concerned about Radon? Radon causes more deaths each year in the U.S. than drunk drivers. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Radon is a class A carcinogen. The Surgeon General has issued a health advisory concerning radon exposure, stating that all U.S. homes should be tested for radon and fixed if the level is high. There is no acceptable, safe level of radon.

As you breathe, radon and radon decay products enter your lungs. These substances release small bursts of energy that can permanently damage lung tissue DNA, and lead to lung cancer. People all over Georgia should be concerned about radon and test their homes. You can’t see, taste or smell radon. Outdoors, radon is quickly diluted by the atmosphere and poses no problem. But if radon seeps into your home from soil beneath your home, it could build to hazardous levels in the relatively stagnant air in your home’s living space.

The only way to know if you are at risk of radon exposure is to test your home, since you can’t see, smell or taste it – and it doesn't cause any immediate symptoms. You can have radon in your home no matter how old it is, how it is built, or how it is heated. Even if your neighbor next door has tested and found no problem, you may have high radon in your home because geology changes rapidly. There are several sources of radon testing. You may get a radon testing kit from the UGA Cooperative Extension for $6.50. Home Improvement stores and hardware stores often sell radon test kits or you may choose to have a professional radon measurement specialist test their home. There’s no reason to be afraid of testing. You won’t have to tear down your home or move out if there is a radon problem. Fortunately, it’s usually easy and relatively inexpensive to fix.

If you get a high reading (4 pCi/L or higher) from your radon test, you’ll need to confirm the first high reading with a second test. If the second test has similar results, it is best to contact a trained, certified radon mitigation contractor for help. Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. Radon mitigators with NEHA and/or NRSB Certification are recommended. Choosing someone to fix your radon problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home repairs—you want to get references and more than one estimate.

Typical costs for remedying the problem run from $1,800 to $2,500. The contractor will probably use a combination of sealing techniques and a system that pulls air from beneath your home by using a vent stack and exhaust fan and vents it above the eave line. If you are planning to build a new home, ask your contractor to install a radon mitigation system during construction. Building the system in up front costs much less than adding it after the home is built.

View this map of the radon zones in GA. Cobb, Fulton, Dekalb, & Gwinnett counties are in Zone 1 (red), meaning they have the highest potential to have radon levels greater than 4 pCi/L. Zone 2 (orange) counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Zone 3 (yellow) counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L.