Radon occurs in outdoor air and the indoor air of buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends fixing homes if the radon level is four pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more. There is no known safe level of radon exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause among non-smokers. Therefore, the EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between two pCi/L and four pCi/L.
The average indoor radon concentration for America's homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. The EPA estimates 21,000 radon-related lung cancers per year based on this national average. The average radon concentration in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA's four pCi/L action level.
If you plan to install a radon mitigation system in your home, you will need to get a Village building permit first. This permit process includes a simple plan review and a final electrical inspection. Read more about permits at https://www.riverside.il.us/240/Building-Permits