Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that forms naturally when radioactive metals like uranium, thorium, or radium break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater.
Why is this important?
Exposure to radon is the second leading risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon exposure is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
What is known?
Radon enters a home from the ground through cracks in the floor, basement walls, or gaps in suspended floors. If groundwater is the home's primary source of drinking water, like a well, radon can be present. There are no specific physical symptoms that are directly connected to radon exposure. An important risk factor is the length of time a person is exposed to elevated levels of radioactive radon particles. Another contributing risk factor is the combined effect of breathing radon and smoking. The combination of breathing elevated radon levels and smoking will raise a person's risk for lung cancer.
Who is at risk?
- People who live in homes with radon concentrations above the EPA reference level of 4 picocuries per liter
- People who smoke and people who live with others who smoke in the home
Reduce your risk:
- Test your home or office for radon
- Install a radon mitigation system if levels found to be high