ABA Family Legal Guide

Home Ownership

Property Insurance and Other Protections

Environmental Issues

What is radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas resulting from the natural decay of uranium in the earth. It comes into your house through small cracks, floor drains, wall/floor joints, and the pores in hollow block walls, and tends to accumulate in the lowest level of the home. It can also get trapped in groundwater, so homes with wells are more likely to have a radon problem. Radon particles get trapped in your lungs, where they break down and release bursts of radiation that can damage lung tissue and cause cancer.