Radon is the Leading Cause of Lung Cancer for Non-Smokers
January 18, 2010
January is National Radon Action Month, designated by the EPA, as radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers. That’s approximately 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, and colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Because radon is a gas, it can enter homes through openings or cracks in the foundation. The radon gas itself decays into radioactive solids, called radon daughters. The radon daughters attach to dust particles in the air, and can be inhaled.
According to the EPA, over 8 million homes in the U.S. have dangerous levels of radon gas – could yours be one of them? You cannot smell, taste or see radon so the EPA suggests that EVERY home regardless of age, location or type of construction be tested for radon gas. You can purchase a test inexpensively at a home improvement store or online for about $15.00.
I purchased our test in the fall and finally conducted it in early January. It’s VERY simple, you basically hang it up in your house for 4-7 days while it collects the surrounding air particles and then mail it back in. I got the test results within days. The good news is that our home has a level of less than 0.3 pCi/L which is basically equivalent to the radon found in fresh air.
Purchase a radon test kit TODAY for your home and if you are planning to rent or purchase a new home, make sure you conduct a radon test as part of your inspection period. If there IS radon, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker as there are ways to fix it.
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