Radon Testing for Real Estate Transactions (Champaign: 2015, credit, new home)

[skostro]

Hello all, I am newer to the radon industry and I was just curious what everyone's thought was on the increasing popularity of radon.

[chet everett]

My gut says the "popularity" (more accurate to say "concern") of radon testing / remediation peaked in late 90s. Since that time most folks that have done any investigation have come to understand that there are minimal risks. There are lots of fear mongers that loudly state radon is second only to smoking as a risk factor for lung cancer but the numbers show that 80 to 90% of lung cancers are associated with smoking. That leaves very few situations and many of the remaining cancers may be genetic with environmental factors merely in the background...

The subsoil conditions of most of Illinois are not particularly prone to radon, this is not an area where there are nuclear minerals mined.

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basi...sk_factors.htm

Lung cancer Risk factors - Mayo Clinic

Am I At Risk? - Lung Cancer Alliance

[myrc60]

Say what you will Chet everett; I met a woman who lost her fiancee to lung cancer in 2015. He never smoked and they couldn't figure out why he got it, until someone tried to sell the other side of their duplex and the radon test came back positive. Now this woman is fighting lung cancer herself. As I understand it, radon is most likely in basements, which I've never had so I've never given it much thought until now.

[flyingcat2k]

We tested our new home in Champaign during our transaction. It came back at 8.8 picocuries per liter which is higher than the recommended 4.0 or lower. We are under 2.0 picocuries now. I don't see our neighbors with radon mitigation stacks so I don't think many are testing for it. I think a lot of people don't want to ask this question because it is between 1k - 2k to install the systems. Sometimes people are weird and think that if they don't investigate it, radon won't impact them.


Personally, it's a cheap fix and not a big deal. It beats having the increased lung cancer chances and yes, inhaling small amounts of radioactive gas over a long period of time will increase those chances. Homes are too well sealed now to allow natural ventilation and drafts to dilute the gases to a safe level.

[CGab]

Radon is cheap to check for, under $100. It's about $1200 to fix. The western suburbs have a lot of Radon. I would test and mediate if needed. It's not worth the risk! If you are buying you can put it in the contract for the sellers to either have it fixed or give you a credit for the cost to fix it.