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Do homes in Florida have radon?
In Florida, one in five homes tested has elevated radon levels above the action level of 4 pCi/L. Elevated radon levels have been found in all types of buildings, including manufactured homes, schools and high-rise condominiums. As a gas in the soil, it enters buildings through small openings in the foundation.
Is radon prevalent in Florida?
Radon problems are found throughout Florida and no area is immune to it. The Department of Health does provide zip code based statistics of radon levels in buildings in Florida. You may visit our Radon Data by Zip Code page, to view information on radon testing results for other zip codes.
Does Florida have high levels of radon?
Homebuyers in most areas of Florida can rest easy when it comes to radon gas. Florida is not a high radon state; we simply do not have the geologic rock formations associated with radium decay from bedrock/granite. Further, radon gas does not readily pass through water such as our aquifers.
Is radon test required in Florida?
Florida law demands radon testing be conducted as part of any home inspection before the sale of a property. Though naturally occurring, the impact radon has on humans cannot be underestimated. The risks of lung cancer are especially high for smokers living in homes with radon present.
Where is radon found in Florida?
They stretch roughly from Columbia, on the northern border, through Alachua and south through the western half of the state to Lee County. Leon County in the northern Panhandle and Dade County in South Florida also are listed. Though radon has been found here, no Central Florida counties are considered high-risk.
Why is there so much radon in Florida?
Radon is a Problem in Florida Believe it or not, several counties in the state are more susceptible to radon primarily due to the abundance of rocky or clay-like soils that are rich in uranium. The element actually decays, producing a radioactive gas known as radon – which is odorless, colorless and tasteless.
What is radon in Florida?
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the United States, according to the DOH. It comes from the radioactive breakdown of naturally occurring radium found in most Florida soils, rocks and groundwater.
Is radon common in South Florida?
Out of sight, radon also remains out of mind for much of South Florida. Many people know little about the naturally-occurring gas, despite estimated deaths of between 15,000 and 22,000 people a year, according the National Academy of Sciences.
Is it safe to live in a house with radon?
If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. It may take years before health problems appear. People who smoke and are exposed to radon are at a greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Where is radon located in Florida?
Index map of Florida with locations of 3 well fields established for this project. Site “L” (low radon) is located in southern Leon county, site “A” in northern Alachua County (high radon), and site “H” in southeastern Hillsborough County (high polonium , moderate radon).
Where is radon most prevalent?
Radon exists in every state and approximately 6% of all houses have elevated levels. The highest average radon concentrations in the United States are found in Iowa and in the Appalachian Mountain areas in southeastern Pennsylvania. Some of the highest readings have been recorded in Mallow, County Cork , Ireland.
Where is the high radon areas in the US?
High radon areas in the U.S. tend to be in the northern section of the country due to the types of soils found there. States with high concentrations of radon include Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
What is radon zone?
Each zone designation reflects the average short-term radon measurement that can be expected to be measured in a building without the implementation of radon control methods. The radon zone designation of the highest priority is Zone 1.