Is radon really a threat in Chicago?
The answer is: "That Depends".
It is not my style to attempt to scare you. Radon is clearly a threat in Chicago if the exposure is high enough for long enough.
Radon will effect different people differently depending on their personal habits and where they live. You must weigh your personal
habits with your pesonal risk tolerence and come to your own conclusions. The variables that effect your your overall threat level are effected by:
Your Personal Habits
Where you live
Your overall exposure to radon.
Then, take a look at the area you live in or plan to live in to see what the measured levels of radon are.
Then you should have your particullar home tested for radon.
There are a couple of things you need to do to
The first thing you should decide is, do you think radon is a threat at all? The EPA publishes data that ties the exposure
levels to cancer rates and ultimately deaths associated with Radon. As all circumstances vary, and no one is likely exactly
match the EPA criterea, you need to educate yourself and make a judgement based on your personal risk tolerence.
If your home measures high for radon, don't panic,
there are several things to do to mitigate the radon and reduce your exposure to it.
How do I know if I have radon?
The only way to know if you have radon is to test for it. Radon levels vary greatly from region to region and home to home.
Radon is present in most soils in Illinois. Considering you live in Illinois, It would be unusual if had absolutly no radon a
t all.
Are there any general indicators of radon levels in Chicago?
The EPA published this map of average measured radon levels in the USA.
Take a look at this map. Select the county you live in for more
specific information about radon levels that have been tested in your area.
When is radon considered dangerous?
According to the EPA, Radon is considered dangerous when the average levels reach the 4pcl level
What to Ask your Home Inspector
Hiring Chicago's best independant radon tester - ten things to ask in order to"Inspect The Inspector"
2) When you call, are your speaking
to the actual home inspector or just a home inspection salesperson? 2)
What type of home inspection report do you produce? 3)How long does it
take to complete the typical home inspection? 4) How much will it cost...
What to Ask your Home Inspector
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