Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in the United States and the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers. It is estimated that radon gas is responsible for as much as 14% of all lung cancers worldwide with higher rates among smokers. The Surgeon General and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend testing for radon gas along with mitigation when high levels are present. According to EPA recommendations, radon levels exceeding 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) pose a health risk and should be mitigated. The presence of radon gas at 4 pCi/L or above is concentrated in your home at levels 10 times higher than outdoor air levels. The EPA also notes levels below this measure can still pose some risk as does the World Health Organization, which recommends mitigation if radon levels exceed 2.7 pCi/L. Technically, no amount of radon gas levels are considered to be safe. Any presence of radon gas increases your risk of getting cancer. Even a reading of 1 piCi/L is equivalent to smoking 2.5 cigarettes daily. Radon exposure is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually, including people that have never smoked. That’s more than twice the number of people that are killed in drunk driving accidents, four times those drowning, and eight times the number of people killed in house fires.
Radon is often called the silent killer because it is a colorless and odorless gas. Radon is radioactive carcinogen, and it’s dangerous. Radon occurs naturally as it is released from rock, soil, or water and can accumulate within your home. Exposure to radon increases your risk of getting lung cancer. It’s the number two cause of lung cancer overall in the U.S. and the number one contributor to lung cancer for those that do not smoke. Since you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, the only way to detect it is with radon testing.
As a homeowner, you take pride in maintaining a safe haven for yourself and your family. However, without the proper surveillance, a number of factors can threaten your health and safety within the walls of your home. For instance, radon concentration is a notorious threat to homes across the country, with concentration levels varying based on a number of environmental and structural factors. To learn more about radon, your home’s radon concentration and how to limit your radon exposure, check out the following helpful information.
