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What is Radon and Where Does it Come From?
Radon is a radioactive gas which is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It occurs in nature and this is one environmental hazard which is not man-caused. Radon comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium, which can be found in nearly all soils and rocks. Because radon is a gas, it moves through the ground and may seep into a home through cracks and/or other openings in the floor and foundation.
In outdoor air, radon is diluted to such low concentrations that is usually nothing to worry about. However, once inside an enclosed space (such as a home) radon can accumulate. Indoor levels depend both on a building’s construction and the concentration of radon in the underlying soil. The amount of radon in the air is normally measured in “picocuries per liter of air”, or “pCi/L”. Radon is found to some degree throughout the United States both outdoors as well as indoors. The average outdoor level is estimated to be 0.4 pCi/L and the average indoor level is 1.3 pCi/L. Thus, most people inhale some radon daily as a component of the air they breathe! For more information about Radon and its risks consult these links.
Contact Information
Bernard Bevill, Section Chief
Radiation Control Section
5800 W 10th St., Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 661-2301
Bernard.Bevill@Arkansas.Gov
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