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� Thousands of years ago a series of enormous floods carried granite rocks and soil from Montana and Idaho, down the Columbia River Gorge, and out into the Willamette River Valley. That granite debris is found in much of the Portland/Vancouver Metro area. That very same granite contains uranium, which breaks down into radon gas.

RADON HAZARD SYMBOL

� Radon is a naturally-occurring, odorless, radioactive gas that can exist at high levels in homes, schools, and other buildings that don't have adequate ventilation.

� Radon is the second leading cause (after smoking) of lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths/year in the United States (even more than drunk driving--17,400).

� The EPA considers Radon to be among the most serious environmental health problems today. It is classified as a Class A carcinogen, and was listed as a hazardous pollutant in the Clean Air Act of 1977.

� In 1991, shortly after the health hazards of Radon became known, all of Portland's public schools were tested. The school district followed EPA guidelines to lower levels at those schools having elevated levels.

� The Oregon Health Division recommends testing all residences, especially living areas, for the annual average concentration of Radon.

� Elevated levels of indoor Radon are found in only 4% of Oregon homes, compared to 8% nationally. However there are some areas in Portland with elevated levels--greater than 4 picocuries/liter. 16% of Portland homes have high indoor Radon levels. Of the 43 city zip codes studied, 7 had high levels, 21 moderate, and 15 low. Most of the high potential locations are in north and northeast Portland. In 1998 geologists at Portland State University developed a color-coded map from their research, showing radon levels in various Portland zip codes. From this map it is easy to spot the neighborhoods with the highest potential for unsafe levels. Radon Risk Map.

� In 1988 Congress passed the Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA). The goal was to make indoor air as free of Radon as outdoor air. 20 years later, exposure to indoor Radon continues to grow. Of 6.7 million new, single-family detached homes built in the U.S., between 2001 and 2005, less than half a million contained radon-resistant features.

� Radon may be found in all types of homes and buildings. If there is radon in the ground, it can seep into a building. It typically moves up from the ground through drains, cracks or other holes in the foundation. It can then become trapped inside.

� Seldom are apartment buildings, rentals, or low-income housing even mentioned in the literature about Radon. While financial assistance can sometimes be found to subsidize a Radon test ($10-25), there seem to be few, if any, programs to help low income Americans pay for the solutions ($800-2500).

Basement mitigation system

� Much of the progress made in reducing Radon exposure has resulted through real estate transactions. In such situations, the buyer, seller, lender, or real estate agent has requested that a home be tested.

� Among the agencies, organizations, and companies most active around this issue are the American Lung Association, the EPA, the State of Oregon Radiation Protection Services, EcoTech, and Cascade Radon.