Radon is not a new threat, but awareness in Georgia is still catching up to the science. While January is recognized as National Radon Action Month, radon does not take months off. This guide gives Georgia homeowners everything they need to understand the risk and take action, any time of year.
1. What Is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down through radioactive decay. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. You cannot detect it with your senses. It seeps out of the ground and into the atmosphere, where it is harmless in outdoor concentrations. But when it enters a building and accumulates in enclosed spaces, it becomes a serious health hazard.
The Science
Radon (Rn-222) has a half-life of 3.8 days. As it decays, it produces radioactive particles (polonium-218 and polonium-214) that can lodge in lung tissue and cause cellular damage over time.
The Source
Uranium is present in virtually all soil and rock, but concentrations vary. Granite and metamorphic rocks (common in North Georgia) contain more uranium than sedimentary formations.
2. Georgia's Radon Risk Profile
Georgia's geological diversity creates a wide range of radon risk across the state. The northern mountains and Piedmont plateau sit on uranium-rich granite and metamorphic bedrock that produces some of the highest radon levels in the Southeast.
- North Georgia (Zone 1): Highest risk. Average indoor levels often exceed 4 pCi/L. Counties include Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, and numerous mountain counties.
- Metro Atlanta (Zone 2): Moderate to high risk. Average levels of 2 to 4 pCi/L with many homes exceeding the action level. Includes Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett.
- South Georgia (Zone 3): Lower average risk, but individual homes can still have elevated levels. Testing is recommended everywhere.
3. Health Effects of Radon Exposure
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind only smoking. The EPA estimates that radon causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. For non-smokers, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer.
The Combined Risk
For smokers, the combined risk of radon and tobacco is multiplicative. A smoker living in a home with 4 pCi/L of radon has roughly a 6 in 100 lifetime risk of lung cancer from radon. This makes radon reduction especially critical for current or former smokers. Children are especially vulnerable to radon exposure.
4. How Radon Enters Your Home
Radon enters homes through any opening that connects indoor air to the soil. The most common entry points include cracks in the foundation slab, gaps around pipes and utility penetrations, floor-wall joints (cove joints), sump pit openings, construction joints, and crawl space soil exposure.
The primary driving force is air pressure. Your home typically has slightly lower air pressure than the soil beneath it, creating a vacuum that draws soil gas (including radon) upward through any available opening.
5. Testing Your Home
Testing for radon is simple, inexpensive, and the only way to know your exposure level. Schedule professional radon testing for your home.
DIY Test Kits
$15 to $40 from hardware stores or online. Place the kit in your lowest livable area for 2 to 7 days, then mail it to a lab. Results arrive within 1 to 2 weeks.
Professional Testing
$150 to $300. A professional places a continuous radon monitor for 48+ hours. Results are available immediately with hourly data, tamper indicators, and professional analysis.
6. Mitigation Solutions
If testing reveals radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L (or if you want to reduce levels below that), professional mitigation is highly effective. The most common system, sub-slab depressurization, creates a vacuum beneath the foundation that intercepts radon before it enters the home and vents it safely above the roofline.
- Effectiveness: 95% or greater radon reduction in virtually all cases
- Cost: $800 to $2,500 for most residential homes
- Installation time: 4 to 8 hours for a typical home
- Operating cost: $50 to $150 per year in electricity
- System lifespan: 20+ years with periodic fan replacement
7. Taking Action in 2026
Your Radon Action Plan
- Test your home if you have never tested or if it has been more than 5 years
- Retest after any major home renovation or foundation work
- If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, contact a professional radon mitigation company
- If you have an existing mitigation system, check the manometer and test annually
- Share this information with neighbors, family, and friends. Visit our radon FAQ page for answers to common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Make 2026 the Year You Test for Radon
Every Georgia home should be tested. Schedule professional radon testing and give your family the protection they deserve.
