Let’s talk about Radon. You may hear about testing for this gas when it’s time to conduct home inspections, but it’s a concern that everyone should be aware of. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. It can seep up through the soil and enter buildings. Once radon enters a building, it is easily dispersed through the air. Radon gas itself is relatively harmless, but the decay product of radon gas releases damaging energy particles that can lead to lung tissue damage when inhaled.
There are some scary statistics when it comes to Radon health risks. After smoking, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Unfortunately, Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.
We always ask our buyers if they want to test for Radon as part of their home inspections as there are slightly elevated levels in our area. Check out the following maps that detail Radon levels around the Columbia Gorge.
COLUMBIA GORGE AREA RADON RISK LEVELS – OREGON
Radon levels in Hood River, The Dalles, Parkdale and surrounding areas.
COLUMBIA GORGE AREA RADON LEVELS – WASHINGTON
Radon levels in White Salmon, Bingen, Underwood and along the river.
Because Radon will typically be at its highest concentration in the lowest level of the building, we highly recommend it in certain cases, like homes with basements. Radon can enter your home in the following ways:
- Cracks in solid floors
- Construction joints
- Cracks in walls
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply
If you have any questions around Radon or home inspection testing, feel free to contact us one of our agents at Jen Dillard Real Estate. We’re happy to help and always glad to educate around Radon in Hood River and surrounding areas.
MAP SOURCES
Oregon: https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=f7691be8bc40430fa8480fc325287f7c
Washington: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtnmobile/wtnmobile/#!/