|
ABOUT RADON
What is Radon
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You cannot
predict radon levels based on state, local or
neighborhood radon measurements. Homes which are next
to each other can have different indoor radon levels.
Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air
above and into your home through cracks and other holes
in the foundation. Your home can then trap radon
inside.
You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a
problem in your home. When you breathe air containing
radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer.
In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has
warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung
cancer in the United States today. The EPA and the
Surgeon General recommend testing all homes for radon.
The EPA recommends that you fix the home when the radon
level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or more. Radon
levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many
cases may be reduced. For more information about radon,
visit
www.epa.gov/iaq/radon.
EPA Map of Radon Zones for Kansas and Missouri
The purpose of this map is to assist National, State,
and local organizations to target their resources and to
implement radon-resistant building codes. This map is
not intended to be used to determine if a home in a
given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with
elevated levels of radon have been found in all three
zones. All homes should be tested regardless of
geographic location. Important points to note:
· All homes should test for radon, regardless of
geographic location or zone designation
· There are many thousands of individual homes with
elevated radon levels in Zone 2 and 3. Elevated levels
can be found in Zone 2 and Zone 3 counties.
All users of the map should carefully review the map
documentation for information on within-county
variations in radon potential and supplement the map
with locally available information before making any
decisions.
The map is not to be used in lieu of testing during real
estate transactions. The Map was developed using
five factors to determine radon potential: indoor radon
measurements; geology; aerial radioactivity; soil
permeability; and foundation type. Radon potential
assessment is based on geologic provinces. Radon Index
Matrix is the quantitative assessment of radon
potential. Confidence Index Matrix shows the quantity
and quality of the data used to assess radon potential.
Geologic Provinces were adapted to county boundaries for
the Map of Radon Zones.
Sections 307 and 309 of the Indoor Radon Abatement Act
of 1988 (IRAA) directed EPA to list and identify areas
of the U.S. with the potential for elevated indoor radon
levels. EPA's Map of Radon Zones assigns each of the
3,141 counties in the U.S. to one of three zones based
on radon potential:
|
 |
Zone 1 counties
have a predicted average indoor radon screening
level
greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter)
(red zones) Highest Potential |
|
 |
Zone 2 counties
have a predicted average indoor radon screening
level
between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones) Moderate
Potential |
|
 |
Zone 3 counties
have a predicted average indoor radon screening
level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones) Low
Potential |
IMPORTANT:
Consult the EPA Map of Radon Zones document
(EPA-402-R-93-071) before using this map. This document
contains information on radon potential variations
within counties. EPA also recommends that this map be
supplemented with any available local data in order to
further understand and predict the radon potential of a
specific area. If you have questions about radon in
water, see
www.epa.gov/radon/rnwater.html or contact
your State Radon Coordinator. |
