Radon gas poses serious health risks. Next to smoking, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that close to 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the US yearly are attributed to residential radon exposure.
Non-smokers beware: The US Surgeon General announced that 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year. Radon gas trapped in homes is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Worldwide radon causes over 15% of all lung cancer diagnosed yearly.
Isn't Radon Testing a Scam?
Despite the serious, and fatal health risks of exposure to radon, few home owners get this checked. One possible reason is that radon testing was, for a short time, plagued by fraudulent testing businesses. However, because of the serious health risks of radon gas, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the individual statewide Departments of Environmental Protection have regulated the testing of homes for radon. Now, only homeowners and certified specialists are legally allowed to check for radon.
Furthermore, there was a time when homes were not air-tight and radon gas was easily dissipated into the air. So, the threat was not as prevelant. However, since the early 1980s, when home energy efficiency measure gained steam, the problem of residential radon gas has increased exponentially.
What is Radon?
Radon is radioactive gas that is completely undetectable by the five human senses. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil (which first breaks down into radium and then into radon). Uranium is naturally occurring in all soil. Hence, radon is continually traveling through the soil and into the atmosphere. It becomes a problem when it gets trapped in homes and is allowed to accumulate.
What Are the Health Risks of Radon Exposure?
It has long been known that breathing radioactive material causes abnormal cell growth when exposed to internal bodily tissue, such as bronchial tissue. However, two recent scientific studies show definitive evidence between radon and lung cancer. "These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes," said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division. "We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer."