EPA recently issued guidance on radon testing for buying or selling a home. According to the National Academy of Sciences, radon is the second leading cause of death due to lung cancer in the United States, and EPA and the Surgeon General have recommended testing all homes below the third floor for radon. In summary, EPA has recommended that sellers and/or purchasers:
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test all homes for radon at the time of the transaction;
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take steps to prevent testing-device interference when conducting radon tests;
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for new homes, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used;
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repair the home, if the radon concentration is 4 picocuries per liter ("pCi/L") or higher; and
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because even lower levels of radon may pose a risk, consider taking reparative measures even if radon levels are less than 4 pCi/L.
