The Real Estate Browser Volume 10, Issue 1 | Page 8
8 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 10 Number 1
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By Drew Howard ,
President, HomePro, Inc.
Every quarter the Commonwealth of Virginia
asks me to provide the number of radon test per-
formed, how many were performed in real estate
transactions, and how many were above 4.0 pci/l.
If you are wondering what radon gas is: It is
naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the 2nd
leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United
States. Radon gas is in every home. Some more
than others. The EPA breaks down every county in
every state. They then place the county in zone 1,
2, or 3. Most counties in Virginia are zone 2. What
does this mean to you? The EPA states that 1 out
of 15 homes in America has elevated radon levels.
Zone 2 says that 1 out of 8 homes has elevated lev-
els. From the data provided I find this information
true. Bedford, Amherst, Lynchburg, and Nelson
County are all Zone 2 for radon. Zone 1 is the low-
est potential for radon gas. There are no counties
in central VA that fall in category 1. Zone 3 is the
highest potential for radon. Campbell, Appomattox,
and Pittsylvania counties fall in zone 3. Typically
about 1 out of 4 homes is higher than 4.0 pci/l.
You are probably asking what does a 4 pci/l, 10
pci/l or 1 pci/l mean to you. Radon is measured in
picocurie per liter of air. Radon lets off alpha, beta,
and gamma rays. This is where the damage to your
lungs comes from. A reading of 10 pci/l is equiva-
lent to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
My data last quarter I had 1 home that tested
40.6 pci/l. The average of all the homes I tested
last quarter was 4.8 pci/l. That would indicate that
all homes in central Virginia would be higher than
the national average and that they would all require
a mitigation system. Based on my data I always
recommend the need to test your home for radon
gas. If you have any questions about radon testing,
radon gas, or radon remediation please give me a
call. (434) 660-3449.
The code of Virginia requires license in the real
estate transaction.
§ 32.1-229.01. Companies listed as proficient
to perform radon screening, testing or mitigation;
compliance.
A. No person shall conduct or offer to conduct
any radon screening, testing or mitigation in the
Commonwealth unless he has been listed as profi-
cient by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Radon Measurement
Proficiency Program of the National Environmental
Health Association or the National Radon Safety
Board Certified Radon Professional Program or any
other proficiency program acceptable to the Board
of Health to offer such screening, testing or mitiga-
tion.
B. Radon professionals listed as proficient
pursuant to subsection A shall comply with the
radon mitigation and testing standards outlined
in the Environmental Protection Agency’s pub-
lication, EPA 402-R-93-078, as revised, or the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM
International) Standard, E-2121-02, or any other
radon testing and mitigation standards accepted
by the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Board.
(1988, c. 736; 1989, cc. 275, 283; 2001, cc. 408,
426; 2003, c. 709; 2005, c. 839; 2008, cc. 41, 466.)
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Thank You, Drew Howard
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