Is Your Family In Danger Of Lung Cancer From Radon?

You can't see radon, you can't smell it or taste it and the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today! Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. In fact, if you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

WHAT IS RADON & WHY IS IT A CONCERN? Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in soil and rock. Radon, like other radioactive materials, undergoes radioactive decay that forms decay products.

Radon and its decay products release radioactive energy that can damage lung tissue in a way that causes the beginning of lung cancer. The more radon you and your family are exposed to and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of eventually developing lung cancer.

While radon problems may be more common in some areas of the country, any home may have a problem. Testing for radon is the only way to know if you have a high levels of radon.

Because gases are drawn to areas of lower pressure, radon gas will enter the home at a rate that depends on the air pressure inside the home, which is affected by temperature, wind conditions, exhaust systems in the home, etc.

Radon is the Health Hazard with a simple solution. Testing your home for radon is a "must do" and homes with high levels of radon can be mitigated inexpensively.

If you hire a Home Inspector to do the test, make sure the technician who places and picks up the test device is certified, by checking their certificate or calling the Radon Information Line.

If a second short-term test is conducted in the same location either simultaneously or at different points in time, and the results of the tests are averaged, the average will provide a slightly more accurate estimate of radon levels. A variety of short-term test devices are available, including charcoal canisters and continuous radon monitors. The DEP Radon Program considers all short-term test devices used by certified companies to be equally reliable.

If you are buying a home, keep your family safe, insist on a simple test for radon! If your existing home has never been tested, call your local Home Inspector for an appointment today.