It is estimated that radon causes tens of thousands of cancer deaths every year in North America. Radon is a highly radioactive gas, and high radon levels have been directly linked to lung cancer.

It is recommended that both buyers and sellers of homes have any potential real estate listings tested for radon.

If you are buying a home ask the seller if they’ve had radon testing done, and if so find out what the radon level is.
If you’re selling a home, get the home tested for radon and present the results to potential buyers.
If there are any problems with radon levels, make sure to get them fixed.

It is very important to note that radon gas is colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and cannot be detected without specialized devices.

Radon is a byproduct of uranium and it usually enters the house through the basement.  Usually, the basement or lowest floor will have the highest concentration of radon.

There are two types of devices that exist to test radon levels. There are passive devices which use chemicals and require no power, and there are devices which require a constant source of power.

It is also necessary to get your houses water sources tested for uranium and radon. This can be done in a specialized home water test.

(See document on home buyers water testing guide.)