Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas released in rock, soil, and water formed from the breakdown of uranium. Levels in outdoor air pose a low threat to human health. However, radon can enter homes from surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings. Radon does not cause symptoms. You can’t see it or smell it, but an elevated radon level in your home may be affecting the health of your family.

Breathing radon over prolonged periods may damage lung tissue. Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the country each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has radon, your risk of developing lung cancer can be much higher.

Radon has been found in elevated levels in homes in every state. High radon concentrations can occur sporadically in all parts of Connecticut. Two homes right next to each other can have different radon levels. Just because your neighbor’s house doesn’t have an elevated level of radon does not mean that your house will also have a low radon level. The only way to know if you have an elevated radon level above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L is to test your home’s indoor air.

High levels of radon in homes usually come from the surrounding soil. Radon gas is drawn into a house through foundation cracks and openings, such as sump pump pits and plumbing features, on the lower levels of your home. Radon may also be found in your water supply if your home is served by a private well. For information on radon in water, read the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) “Radon in Your Well Water” fact sheet.

Additional Resources:

What Everyone Needs to Know About Radon | Lo Que Todos Deben Saber Acerca Del Radón (CT DPH Infographic Factsheet)

Testing your home is easy to do and should only take a few minutes of your time. It’s as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in the basement or on the first floor, and, after 2 to 7 days, sending the detector to a lab for analysis. The lab will then send you the radon test result within a few days of receipt.

Radon levels vary seasonally and tend to be higher in the winter months. The best time to test for radon is in the colder season between the months of November through March when your house is closed up. Keep your windows and outside doors closed as much as possible during the test. The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter of air” or (pCi/L). The US EPA recommends that homes with radon levels at 4 pCi/L or higher be reduced. However, any amount of radon exposure can pose some health risk. Therefore, the EPA recommends that homeowners may want to consider fixing their homes for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

Even if your radon test result is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again in the future. If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home, such as the basement, you should test again on that level. If you are planning a structural renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into a living space, it is important to test both before you begin the renovation and after the work is completed. The EPA recommends retesting your home every two years.

You may prefer to hire a nationally certified measurement professional to conduct a radon test in your home - a list of these professionals can be found here.

If the air in your home tests at or above 4 pCi/L and your home has private well water, it is recommended to also test your water for radon. If radon is present in your water, it can become airborne and contribute to your radon in air level. For more information on radon in water, including how to test your water, visit our Radon in Water website.

How to Get a Test Kit:

• The American Lung Association. Call 1-800-LUNG-USA or visit their online store.
• Home improvement stores, local hardware stores, or any radon testing laboratory or company.
• Your local health department / district.

Each winter, the Radon Program partners with interested local health departments (LHDs) who conduct community-based activities to promote radon testing and mitigation (when elevated levels are found). A part of the partnership includes providing LHDs free short-term radon in air test kits for distribution to community residents. Please contact the Radon Program for more information about this annual partnership.

Additional Resources:

How to Test (Video)

Radon Testing Checklist | Lista de Verificación de Pruebas de Radón

If your home has elevated levels of radon in air, you should choose a qualified radon mitigation contractor to take steps to reduce the levels to below 4 pCi/L. Qualified radon contractors have attended specialized courses and are registered through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (CT DCP). A mitigation contractor takes steps including installing ventilation systems, sealing entry routes for radon gas, and installing sub-slab depressurization systems to reduce radon levels. Radon mitigation systems are easy to install and can reduce radon levels by up to 99%. The approximate cost of a radon in air mitigation system in Connecticut is $1,200.

If you have private well water and your radon in water test result was at or above 5,000 pCi/L, it is recommended to install a radon in water mitigation system. A qualified mitigation contractor can make suggestions on what type of system is most appropriate based on your test results and existing plumbing. For more information about radon in water, including mitigation system types and approximate costs, visit our Radon in Water website.

A list of qualified radon mitigation professionals can be found here.

For more information on ways to reduce radon, refer to EPA’s Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction - How to Fix Your Home.

Additional Resources:

Measure - Mitigate - Maintain | Mida - Mitigue - Mantenga (CT DPH Radon Reduction Infographic)

Elevated levels of radon have been found in classrooms in a number of schools in Connecticut. Therefore, it is important that students, teachers, and parents are aware that a potential problem could exist in their school. A nationwide survey of radon levels in schools estimates that nearly one in five has at least one schoolroom with a short-term radon level above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.

Testing is the only way to know if elevated levels of radon exist in your school. Public schools in Connecticut who serve grades K - 12 are required to test for radon in air pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) § 10-220(d)(2). School administrators should keep radon test reports on file and notify students, teachers, and parents of radon test information.

To view the Program’s policy requirements, testing guidelines, and for more information about radon testing in public schools, please click here.

Yes. Elevated levels of radon can also be a concern in child care settings, such as child care centers and group child care homes. Testing is the only way to determine if radon levels are elevated.

While the Radon Program provides general information and technical guidance on best practices, it does not have regulatory authority over child care facilities. Oversight of these environments is under the purview of the Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

For information on current regulations for child care centers and group child care homes, please visit the OEC website: Licensing for Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes

Radon Checklist For Child Care Centers and Group Homes

Radon-resistant construction methods can be effective in reducing radon entry. When installed properly, these simple and cost-effective techniques can help reduce the accumulation of radon gas in homes by preventing entry and venting the gas outdoors. All of the techniques and materials are commonly used in construction; no special materials are required. Talk to your builder about consulting with a qualified radon contractor to design your new house with RRNC techniques as described in Appendix AF of the CT State Building Code. Every new home should be tested after occupancy, even if it was built using radon resistant construction methods. If radon levels above the EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L are detected, a fan can be installed to activate the system. It is easier and less expensive to reduce radon levels in homes that have been built with radon-resistant construction techniques. Homes can be built to prevent radon entry - this is known as radon-resistant construction.

• Having your builder incorporate radon-resistant features into your new home adds very little cost.
• Homes with radon-resistant new construction features should be tested for radon after occupancy.
• The Connecticut State Building Code addresses Passive Radon Gas Controls for new construction.

For more information, visit EPA’s website: How to Address Radon When Building a New Home

Radon presents a serious health risk, but it can be controlled easily and cost-effectively. Test your home for radon and take steps to reduce elevated levels. The State of Connecticut does not license or otherwise certify radon professionals, however, the Radon Program maintains lists of nationally certified professionals in accordance with the requirements of CGS § 19a-14b (5)(b). These lists can be found here.

For information on how to become listed as a qualified radon professional who operates in Connecticut, or for training resources, click here.