Radon is a cancer-causing,
radioactive gas.
You can't see radon.
And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in
your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of
deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing
radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has
warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in
the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer
deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your
risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over
the U.S.
Radon comes from the
natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water
and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over
the U.S. It can get into any type of building - homes, offices,
and schools - and build up to high levels. But you and your family
are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home. That's
where you spend most of your time.
You should test for radon.
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at
risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing
all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends
testing in schools.
Testing is inexpensive and easy - it should only take a few minutes
of your time. Millions of Americans have already tested their
homes for radon.
You can fix a radon problem.
There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that aren't too costly.
Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
Recently Released University of Iowa College of Public Health study finds residential radon exposure poses a significant lung cancer risk. Read the press release with links to more about the study at http://www.radon.org/radonstudy.html