Con Ed goes public with contract offer | Armonk Realtor
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Daily Archives: July 10, 2012
Robert De Niro sells West Village house | Mount Kisco NY Real Estate
De Niro finally completed the sale on a West Village house this week – one year after first putting it on the market. Raphael De Niro, that is, Robert’s Elliman broker son, who managed his father’s property sale for him.
The actor, famous for his roles in The Godfather, Heat and, more recently, Meet the Fockers, originally put the five-storey Italianate home up for sale in July 2011 with an asking price of $14 million.
De Niro owned the property for over 30 years, according to its listing, which describes the home as in need of “full renovation”. Built in 1852, the house “neighbours some of the most historically rich properties in Manhattan”, adds the listing, describing it as “a rare instance of a true blank canvas, ready to be transformed with your vision and architect”.
Whether buyers were put off by the state of the building or the hefty asking price is still unclear – De Niro certainly did not listen to TheMoveChannel.com’s podcast “Why Is My House Not Selling?” – but the heavily-reduced final price of $9.5 million was an offer the new owner couldn’t refuse.
Bedford Corners Real Estate | Painting a brighter future for Italian property
Take a stroll around Liguria’s countryside and you’ll see lots of empty hilltop villages. Deserted communities, whose residents fled long ago to the cities during the country’s economic boom. Now, these ghost towns sit unoccupied, unwanted by homeowners and buyers alike.
Except for one.
Montalto Ligure, in the commune of Imperia, is buzzing with activity. A group of overseas investors moved in years ago and have since been doing up the crumbling homes and creating their own ideal retreat.
One of them is Marina Bretschneider (www.marina-bretschneider.com), a German artist and designer who lives in the area and was inspired by one property’s potential.
“She called me back in Cologne and said she wanted me to see something,” says her financial backer and close friend, Jörg Neubauer. “It was this old building, completely in ruins! And she said: ‘This is going to be my home.'”
That was six years ago. Now, the 17th Century house stands proud as the highest property in the village. Living there with her daughter, Marina presides over a house of art that combines medieval walls, modern furnishings, Italian lifestyle and German ideas.
The unobstructed views of the Carpesina valley from the 75 square-foot balcony are breathtaking, while the South-West terrace has panoramic vistas of the beguiling, green landscape. But the natural beauty almost pales in comparison to the manmade wonders inside.
Each of the nine cavernous rooms, with ceilings reaching up to 16 feet, is a stunning piece of design, filled with work from friends and colleagues. Of course, Jörg explains, it isn’t included in the asking price.
“When people visit, they often ask if they can buy some of the furniture or the artwork,” he tells me. “Marina won’t sell everything, but you could more or less buy it like it is.”
A large fresco painting adorns the wall of the large bathroom, complete with retro bateau bathtub. Tiled and parquet floors stretch between the antique doors, while the traditional Tuscan stove begs to be fired up.
But I only have eyes for the main feature in the living room: an open fireplace, above which is a bricked-in relief of Michelangelo’s Madonna of the Stairs.
“It’s not the original, obviously!” laughs Jörg. “But Marina is friends with the guy who makes replicas of artworks for every notable museum in the country – this is exactly the same high-end reproduction, directly from a negative mould of the original, with every scratch and detail.”
That alone would be enough to boost the house price, I suggest. Not to mention the four bedrooms. Why sell the property for only €480,000? If it were round the corner in Monaco, it’d be going for up to eight times that amount.
“Marina’s daughter in Italy has left middle school and gone to high school in Florence. Now my friend lives alone in a 200 square metre house. It’s like playing football with yourself! Besides, the time comes when you have to stand back and try and make your money back on an investment.”
It certainly strikes you as an investment worth making. Last year, German business magazine Capital highlighted nearby Menton and Nice as “the two most valuable European locations for holiday homes”. Just across the border, Montalto’s house of art is a smart alternative. With beaches only 6 miles away and an international airport one hour’s drive, you could make around €40,000 a year renting the house out to visitors.
He nods. “There’s no other holiday home with this many bedrooms up for rent in the area.”
It helps, of course, that Montalto is always active. People from across the globe live there all year round, he tells me.
“I come from Cologne,” he says, “which is known for its interesting lifestyle, but I find more fascinating people in Montalto and around the local area whenever I visit! It’s an Italian cultural monument in its own right!”
Indeed, looking at the lively community, it’s hard to believe that the building behind him used to be an old ruin on an abandoned hill.
From the stone ages to the Renaissance in just six years? Italy’s economy may look bleak, but Jörg and Marina’s work in Montalto proves that sometimes all it takes is a little Italian inspiration to paint a brighter future.
And some Germany creativity, of course.
Live in your own house of art today for just €479,990:
Chappaqua Real Estate | Cyprus house sales slip back in June
Cyprus property sales slipped back in June, according to the latest figures.
The country’s Land Registry offices reveal that a total of 543 contracts were deposited for the purchase of properties, 8 per cent lower than June last year.
But there is some positive news to be found: property sales across the first six months of 2012 were 4 per cent higher than the first half of 2011. This slight increase is most likely due to the rush to beat the Property Transfer Fee deadline, suggests Cyprus Property News, which has since been extended to the end of the year.
Domestic sales showed similar promise in June, with 15 properties sold across the month, 4 per cent higher than June last year, and 2,910 transactions completed in the first half of 2012, 12 per cent above the first six months of 2011.
Internationally, though, the market is still sliding. Sales fell in all areas by 36 per cent in June compared to last year, with Larnaca hardest hit by a year-on-year drop of 68 per cent.
Over the first six half of this year, overseas sales reached 800, 18 per cent down on the first half of last year.
RobReportBlog | First Half real estate sales up 14% in the Bedford NY Area
Armonk up 5.5%
Chappaqua up 8.8%Bedford Corners down 23%Pound Ridge up 52%Bedford Village down 11%Bedford Hills down 21%Katonah up 2%South Salem flatWaccabuc up 400%Cross River flatNorth Salem up 47%Mount Kisco up 27%Overall are saw sales up 14% in the first hal of 2012 vs last year.Looking for Mold on a July day | Wiki Mold for the South Salem Realtor
The colloquial term mold (or mould; see spelling differences) is applied to a large and taxonomically diverse number of fungal species where their growth results in a moldy appearance of objects, especially food.[1] The objects become discolored by a layer of fungal growth. Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae.[2] [3] A connected network of these tubular branching hyphae, called a mycelium, is considered a single organism. The hyphae are generally transparent, so the mycelium appears like very fine, fluffy white threads over the surface. Cross-walls (septa) may delimit connected compartments along the hypha, each containing one or multiple, genetically identical nuclei. The dusty texture of many molds is caused by profuse numbers of asexual spores conidia formed by differentiation at the ends of hyphae. The mode of formation and shape of these spores is traditionally used to classify the mold fungi.[4]Many of these spores are colored, making the fungus much more obvious to the human eye at this stage in its life-cycle. In contrast, fungi that can adopt a single celled growth habit are called yeasts.
Molds are considered to be microbes and do not form a specific taxonomic or phylogenetic grouping, but can be found in the divisionsZygomycota and Ascomycota. In the past, most molds were classified within the Deuteromycota.[5] Molds cause biodegradation of natural materials, that can be unwanted when it becomes food spoilage or damage to property. They also play important roles in biotechnology and food science in the production of various foods, beverages, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals and enzymes. Some diseases of animals and humans can be caused by molds, usually as a result of allergic sensitivity to their spores or caused by toxic compounds produced as molds grow [2]
[edit]Biology
There are thousands of known species of molds which have diverse life-styles including saprotrophs, mesophiles, psychrophiles andthermophiles and a very few opportunistic pathogens.[6] They all require moisture for growth and there are some aquatic species. Like all fungi, molds derive energy not through photosynthesis but from the organic matter on which they live, utilising heterotrophy. Typically, molds secrete hydrolytic enzymes, from the hyphal tips. These enzymes degrade complex biopolymers such as starch, cellulose andlignin into simpler substances which can be absorbed by the hyphae. In this way molds play a major role in causing decomposition of organic material, enabling the recycling of nutrients throughout ecosystems. Many molds also synthesise mycotoxins and siderophoreswhich, together with lytic enzymes, inhibit the growth of competing microorganisms.
Molds reproduce through producing very large numbers of small spores,[6] which may contain a single nucleus or be multinucleate. Mold spores can be asexual (the products of mitosis) or sexual (the products of meiosis); many species can produce both types. Mold spores may remain airborne indefinitely, may cling to clothing or fur or may be able to survive extremes of temperature and pressure.
Although molds grow on dead organic matter everywhere in nature, their presence is visible to the unaided eye only when mold coloniesgrow. A mold colony does not consist of discrete organisms but of an interconnected network of hyphae called a mycelium. All growth occurs at hyphal tips, with cytoplasm and organelles flowing forwards as the hyphae advance over or through new food sources. Nutrients are absorbed at the hyphal tip. In artificial environments such as buildings, humidity and temperature are often stable enough to foster the growth of mold colonies, commonly seen as a downy or furry coating growing on food or other surfaces.
Few molds can begin growing at 4 °C (39 °F), the temperature within a typical refrigerator, or less. When conditions do not enable growth to take place, molds may remain alive in a dormant state depending on the species, within a large range of temperatures before they die. The many different mold species vary enormously in their tolerance to temperature and humidity extremes. Certain molds can survive harsh conditions such as the snow-covered soils of Antarctica, refrigeration, highly acidic solvents, anti-bacterial soap and even petroleum products such as jet fuel.
Xerophilic molds use the humidity in the air as their only water source; other molds need more moisture.
[edit]Common molds
[edit]Food production
The Kōji (麹?) molds are a group of Aspergillus species, notably Aspergillus oryzae, and secondarily A. sojae, that have been cultured in eastern Asia for many centuries. They are used to ferment a soybean and wheat mixture to make soybean paste and soy sauce. Kojimolds break down the starch in rice, barley, sweet potatoes, etc., a process called saccharification, in the production of sake, shōchūand other distilled spirits. Koji molds are also used in the preparation of Katsuobushi.
Red rice yeast is a product of the mold Monascus purpureus grown on rice, and is common in Asian diets. The yeast contains several compounds collectively known asmonacolins, which are known to inhibit cholesterol synthesis.[7] A study has shown that red rice yeast used as a dietary supplement, combined with fish oil and healthy lifestyle changes, may help reduce “bad” cholesterol as effectively as certain commercial statin drugs.[8]
Some sausages, such as salami, use starter cultures[9] in their production, to improve flavour and reduce spoilage during curing.
Other molds that have been used in food production include:
- Fusarium venenatum – quorn
- Geotrichum candidum – cheese
- Neurospora sitophila – oncom
- Penicillium spp. – cheese
- Rhizomucor miehei – rennet for making vegetarian and other cheese
- Rhizopus oligosporus – tempeh
- Ustilago maydis – filling in tortilla-based foods
[edit]Pharmaceuticals from molds
Alexander Fleming‘s famous discovery of the antibiotic penicillin involved the mold Penicillium, although the species identity is disputed (Penicillium notatum, Penicillium chrysogenum or Penicillium rubens). [10]
Several of the statin cholesterol-lowering drugs (such as Lovastatin, from Aspergillus terreus) are derived from molds.[11]
Howard Florey, Ernst Chain, Norman Heatley, Edward Abraham and teams of scientists in the UK and USA developed industrial-scale production of penicillin between 1941-45 and arguable started the use of antibiotics in medicine. [12] [13]
The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine, used to suppress the rejection of transplanted organs, is derived from the mold Tolypocladium inflatum.
[edit]Health effects
Main article: Mold health issuesMolds are ubiquitous in nature, and mold spores are a common component of household and workplace dust. However, when mold spores are present in large quantities, they can present a health hazard to humans, potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
Some molds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Some studies claim that exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death. Prolonged exposure, e.g. daily home exposure, may be particularly harmful. Research on the health effects of mold has not been conclusive.[14] The term “toxic mold” refers to molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum, and not to all molds in general.[15].These toxic properties may also be used to the benefit of humans Eg. penicillin from penicillium and so on. In low doses these toxins that could otherwise be deadly can be controlled to our benefit to fight of infection.
Mold in the home can usually be found in damp, dark or steamy areas e.g. bathroom or kitchen, cluttered storage areas, recently flooded areas, basement areas, plumbing spaces, areas with poor ventilation and outdoors in humid environments. Symptoms caused by mold allergy are watery, itchy eyes, a chronic cough, headaches or migraines, difficulty breathing, rashes, tiredness, sinus problems, nasal blockage and frequent sneezing.
[edit]Growth in buildings and homes
Main articles: Mold growth, assessment, and remediation and Indoor air qualityMold growth in buildings can lead to a variety of health problems. Various practices can be followed to mitigate mold issues in buildings, the most important of which is to reduce moisture levels that can facilitate mold growth.[15] Removal of affected materials after the source of moisture has been reduced and/or eliminated may be necessary for remediation.
[edit]See also
via trulia.com
Radon, Radon, Radon – Looking for Radon in the Sales Process | Cross River NY Real Estate
A Citizen’s Guide to Radon
The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon
EPA Recommends
- Test your home for radon — it’s easy and inexpensive.
- Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter, or pCi/L, or higher.
- Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.
Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.
* Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2005-2006 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2006 National Safety Council Reports.
Overview
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.
You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.
Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.
You should test for radon.
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools.
Testing is inexpensive and easy — it should only take a few minutes of your time. Millions of Americans have already tested their homes for radon (see How to Test Your Home).
You can fix a radon problem.
Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
New homes can be built with radon-resistant features.
Radon-resistant construction techniques can be effective in preventing radon entry. When installed properly and completely, these simple and inexpensive techniques can help reduce indoor radon levels in homes. In addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it easier and less expensive to reduce radon levels further if these passive techniques don’t reduce radon levels to below 4 pCi/L. Every new home should be tested after occupancy, even if it was built radon-resistant. If radon levels are still in excess of 4 pCi/L, the passive system should be activated by having a qualified mitigator install a vent fan. For more explanation of radon resistant construction techniques, refer to EPA publication, Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant Homes (PDF) (84 pp., 5.5 M).
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
Any home may have a radon problem
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water (see “Radon in Water” below). In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.
RADON GETS IN THROUGH:
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Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know about your home is to test.
Radon can also be a problem in schools and workplaces. Ask your state radon office about radon problems in schools, daycare and childcare facilities, and workplaces in your area.
How to Test Your Home
You can’t see radon, but it’s not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter of air,” or “pCi/L.” There are many kinds of low-cost “do-it-yourself” radon test kits you can get through the mail and in some hardware stores and other retail outlets. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you. You should first contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a private radon proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your area. For links and information, visitwww.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html.
There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon:
Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
SHORT-TERM TESTING:
The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. “Charcoal canisters,” “alpha track,” “electret ion chamber,” “continuous monitors,” and “charcoal liquid scintillation” detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If you need results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to decide whether to fix your home (see Home Sales).
How To Use a Test Kit:
Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting just 2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20 inches above the floor in a location where it won’t be disturbed – away from drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you’ve finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.
LONG-TERM TESTING:
Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. “Alpha track” and “electret” detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home’s year-round average radon level than a short-term test.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
Step 1. Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:
- For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.
- If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is more than twice EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level, you should take a second short-term test immediately.
Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher. (see also Home Sales)
What Your Test Results Mean
Test your home now and save your results. If you find high radon levels, fix your home before you decide to sell it.
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.
Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4 pCi/L. This can happen when your results are close to 4 pCi/L. For example, if the average of your two short-term test results is 4.1 pCi/L, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average is somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk – no level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.
If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a basement) you should retest your home on that level.
Even if your test result is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again sometime in the future.
Radon and Home Sales
More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won’t complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, read EPA’s pamphlet “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon,” which addresses some common questions (see also Radon in Real Estate). You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches apart) to decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
- Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
- Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your state radon office can assist you in identifying a qualified tester.
- Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they plan to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test.
Today many homes are built to prevent radon from coming in. Building codes in your state or local area may require these radon-resistant construction features. If you are buying or renting a new home, ask the owner or builder if it has radon-resistant features. The EPA recommends building new homes with radon-resistant features in high radon potential (Zone 1) areas. Even if built radon-resistant, every new home should be tested for radon after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L or more, you can have a qualified mitigator easily add a vent fan to an existing passive system for about $300 and further reduce the radon level in your home. For more information, refer to EPA’s Map of Radon Zones and other useful EPA documents on radon-resistant new construction (see publications). See also EPA’sIndoor airPLUS new homes certification program.
Radon in Water
There are two main sources for the radon in your home’s indoor air, the soil and the water supply. Compared to radon entering the home through water, radon entering your home through the soil is usually a much larger risk.
The radon in your water supply poses an inhalation risk and an ingestion risk. Research has shown that your risk of lung cancer from breathing radon in air is much larger than your risk of stomach cancer from swallowing water with radon in it. Most of your risk from radon in water comes from radon released into the air when water is used for showering and other household purposes.
Radon in your home’s water is not usually a problem when its source is surface water. A radon in water problem is more likely when its source is ground water, e.g. a private well or a public water supply system that uses ground water. If you are concerned that radon may be entering your home through the water and your water comes from a public water supply, contact your water supplier.
If you’ve tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, and your water comes from a well, have your water tested.
If you’ve tested your private well and have a radon in water problem, it can be fixed. Your home’s water supply can be treated in two ways. Point-of-entry treatment can effectively remove radon from the water before it enters your home. Point-of-use treatment devices remove radon from your water at the tap, but only treat a small portion of the water you use and are not effective in reducing the risk from breathing radon released into the air from all water used in the home.
For more information, call EPA’s Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visit www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html If your water comes from a private well, you can also contact your state radon office.
How to Lower the Radon Levels in Your Home
Radon and Home Renovations
If you are planning any major structural renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially important to test the area for radon before you begin the renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem, radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part of the renovation. Because major renovations can change the level of radon in any home, always test again after work is completed.
Since there is no known safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. But the risk can be reduced by lowering the radon level in your home.
There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home, but the one primarily used is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil suction radon reduction system, does not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. Radon contractors can use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.
Ways to reduce radon in your home are discussed in EPA’s “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction.” You can also download a copy from our radon publications page.
The cost of reducing radon in your home depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. The cost to fix can vary widely; consult with your state radon office or get one or more estimates from qualified mitigators. The cost is much less if a passive system was installed during construction.
Note: The diagram is a composite view of several mitigation options. The typical mitigation system usually has only one pipe penetration through the basement floor; the pipe may also be installed on the outside of the house.
Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. A qualified contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help you pick the right treatment method.
Check with your state radon office for names of qualified or state certified radon contractors in your area. You can also contact private radon proficiency programs for lists of privately certified radon professionals in your area. For more information on private radon proficiency programs, visit www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html. Picking someone to fix your radon problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home repairs – you may want to get references and more than one estimate.
If you are considering fixing your home’s radon problem yourself, you should first contact your state radon office for guidance and assistance (see www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html) .
Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs.
You should also test your home again after it is fixed to be sure that radon levels have been reduced. Most soil suction radon reduction systems include a monitor that will indicate whether the system is operating properly. In addition, it’s a good idea to retest your home every two years to be sure radon levels remain low.
The Risk of Living With Radon
Scientists are more certain about radon risks than from most other cancer-causing substances.
Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer. And the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.
Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of radon health risks. However, we know more about radon risks than risks from most other cancer-causing substances. This is because estimates of radon risks are based on studies of cancer in humans (underground miners).
Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk. Stop smoking and lower your radon level to reduce your lung cancer risk.
Children have been reported to have greater risk than adults of certain types of cancer from radiation, but there are currently no conclusive data on whether children are at greater risk than adults from radon.
Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
- How much radon is in your home
- The amount of time you spend in your home
- Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked
Radon Risk If You Smoke
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*… | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**… | WHAT TO DO: Stop smoking and… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 260 people could get lung cancer | 250 times the risk of drowning | Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L | About 150 people could get lung cancer | 200 times the risk of dying in a home fire | Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L | About 120 people could get lung cancer | 30 times the risk of dying in a fall | Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L | About 62 people could get lung cancer | 5 times the risk of dying in a car crash | Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L | About 32 people could get lung cancer | 6 times the risk of dying from poison | Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L | About 20 people could get lung cancer | (Average indoor radon level) | (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L | About 3 people could get lung cancer | (Average outdoor radon level) | |
| Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower. * Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). ** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. | |||
Radon Risk If You’ve Never Smoked
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*… | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**… | WHAT TO DO: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 36 people could get lung cancer | 35 times the risk of drowning | Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L | About 18 people could get lung cancer | 20 times the risk of dying in a home fire | Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L | About 15 people could get lung cancer | 4 times the risk of dying in a fall | Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L | About 7 people could get lung cancer | The risk of dying in a car crash | Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L | About 4 person could get lung cancer | The risk of dying from poison | Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L | About 2 people could get lung cancer | (Average indoor radon level) | (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L | (Average outdoor radon level) | ||
| Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher. * Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). ** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. | |||
It’s never too late to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Don’t wait to test and fix a radon problem. If you are a smoker, stop smoking.
Radon Myths
MYTH: Scientists aren’t sure radon really is a problem.
FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is difficult, time consuming and expensive.
FACT: Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort.
MYTH: Homes with radon problems can’t be fixed.
FACT: There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs; check with one or more qualified mitigators. Call your state radon office for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
FACT: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
MYTH: A neighbor’s test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT: It’s not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should test their water for radon.
FACT: Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes from a public water supply that uses ground water, call your water supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for information on testing your water.
MYTH: It’s difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some times a good selling point.
MYTH: I’ve lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.
FACT: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you’ve lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests can’t be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT: A short-term test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
* If the radon test is part of a real estate transaction, the result of two short-term tests can be used in deciding whether to mitigate. For more information, see EPA’s “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon“.
For Further Information
www.epa.gov/radon EPA’s main radon page. Includes links to publications, Hotlines, private radon proficiency programsand more.
If you need further information about radon or would like to ask a question, see our Frequently Asked Questions system at http://iaq.supportportal.com and select the topic area radon. You can use this interface to submit questions and subscribe to specific topic information.
Radon Hotlines
1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236)*
National Radon Hotline Purchase radon test kits by phone.
1-800-55RADON (1-800-557-2366)*
National Radon Helpline Get live help for your radon questions.
1-800-644-6999*
National Radon Fix-It Line For general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home.
1-800-426-4791
Safe Drinking Water Hotline, operated under contract to EPA. For information on testing, treatment, radon in water, and drinking water standards.
*Operated by Kansas State University in partnership with EPA
EPA Regional Office, State Radon Coordinators, Tribal Program Offices
Call your state office for additional help with any of your radon questions. Up-to-date information on how to contact your state radon office, your EPA Regional Offices and Tribal Coordinators is available atwww.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html (just click on your state or EPA regional office). Visit www.epa.gov/iaqtribal for information specifically presented for Tribal Partners.
Publications
How to Order Publications
You can order Indoor Air Quality publications from EPA’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
Website: www.epa.gov/nscep
Phone: 1-800-490-9198 (M-F from 9:30-5:30 eastern)
Fax: (301) 604-3408
Email: nscep@bps-lmit.com
SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH ADVISORY:
“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.” January 2005
U.S. EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
In June 2003, the EPA revised its risk assessment for radon exposure in homes. EPA estimates that about 21,000 annual lung cancer deaths are radon related. EPA also concluded that the effects of radon and cigarette smoking are synergistic, so that smokers are at higher risk from radon. EPA’s revised estimates are based on the National Academy of Sciences 1999 BEIR IV (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation) Report which concluded that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Seewww.epa.gov/radon/risk_assessment.html
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