Radon Testing & Mitigation
Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico
Why Should We Be Concerned About Radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas, the result of the breakdown of uranium and radium. The predominant source of radon is the rock and soil under and around the buildings we occupy, but domestic water supplies and building materials can less frequently be important sources. Radon can move through soils and fractured rock, and seep into and accumulate to elevated levels in buildings all over the world.
When radon and its decay products are breathed in, damage to lung tissue can occur and lead to lung cancer. There is no safe level of radon. However, 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, and whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked. As the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., it is estimated to be responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths each year.
The only way to know the radon levels in a building is to test. For more information go to www.epa.gov/radon.
What Are EBSI's Qualifications for Testing and Mitigation?
In 1981, Brad Turk of EBSI conducted some of the first residential measurements of radon in a multi-city study. While a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he went on to assist in developing radon test methods currently being used by homeowners and radon professionals across the country. During this same time, he collaborated with other investigators on devising and refining a range of techniques for correcting, or mitigating, high radon levels in homes, schools, and offices. These systems were installed and evaluated in buildings all over the US: from Washington State to New Jersey to Alabama to New Mexico -- and have become the backbone for solving radon problems in all types of buildings. Closer to home, working with the NM Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) in Socorro, Brad directed a research study of radon mitigation appropriate for the unique construction characteristics of New Mexico houses.
Applying this 30+ years of experience, EBSI specializes in the large, difficult, and complex radon testing and mitigation cases. EBSI can prepare and implement radon testing plans for expansive office buildings, apartments, and schools; and for homes with architecturally sophisticated floor plans. We can design and install innovative and effective radon mitigation strategies for difficult-to-mitigate homes and buildings with complicated and unusual foundations and construction features. At the same time, we also provide testing and mitigation services for buildings with traditional radon problems.