Today’s topic… radon. In layman’s terms, radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Radon might be a problem in your home – but, don’t worry, there are simple solutions to fixing the problem.
Radon occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in salt, rocks and water. Breathing air containing radon can lead to cancer. Radon is estimated to cause 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. annually. In fact, according to the Surgeon General, only smoking causes more lung cancer than radon.
Radon can be found all over the U.S. – and it can get into any type of building – homes, offices, and schools. Your family is most likely to get the greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.
Testing is the only way to know if you are at risk from radon. Thankfully, testing is inexpensive and easy – and takes only a few minutes to complete. Test kits are available online or at most hardware stores.
In the event radon is found in your home, levels can be reduced by up to 99% using radon mitigation systems. To learn more about radon visit http://www.epa.gov/radon.
