You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but radon is one of the leading environmental causes of lung cancer and could be present at dangerous levels in your home.
You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and could be present at dangerous levels in your home. What is radon and how do you know if you’re being exposed?
Learn more about radon, its connection to lung cancer and what steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
What Is Radon?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, and radium break down in rocks, soil, or groundwater. Radon is radioactive and typically moves up through cracks and other holes or gaps in the foundation.
Who Is At Risk for Radon Exposure?
Because radon comes naturally from the earth, everyone is exposed to it. However, only those people in environments with increased levels of radon are at risk of negative effects. According to the Defense Health Agency, here are a few factors that may affect your risk for radon exposure:
- Geography–While radon is found everywhere, mountainous regions, the Midwest, and the northern U.S. have a higher potential for radon.
- Time spent indoors–Your home is where you’re likely to have the most exposure to radon. Any home can have a radon problem–whether your home is new, old, well-sealed, drafty, with or without a basement.
- Air circulation–Good ventilation and airflow within your home can help reduce the effects of radon.
- Smoking–Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer, but it affects non-smokers too.
- Respiratory disease–People who have chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma or emphysema, often have greater than normal amounts of air left in the lungs after normal expiration.
What Health Effects Can It Have?
Lung cancer is the only proven health effect associated with radon, but childhood leukemias and brain disorders, other cancers, and diseases may possibly be associated with radon. Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year, and, according to the American Lung Association, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Smoking causes 80-90% of lung cancer cases, and radon causes most of the remaining 10-20%. In the U.S., radon is responsible for around 21,000 deaths each year. The health hazard comes from radioactive particles released when radon decays which can be inhaled into the lungs and attack your cells with cancer-causing radiation.
What Steps Can I Take to Reduce My Risk?
With Veterans experiencing lung cancer at higher rates than the general population, it’s important to understand any and all ways to reduce your risk for lung cancer, including reducing your exposure to high levels of radon. Here are some steps you can take right now:
- Test your home. Radon exposure is a preventable health risk, and testing your home for radon can help prevent unnecessary exposure. The EPA recommends all homes be tested for radon. It’s easy and inexpensive. You can buy radon test kits online or in many home improvement stores. You can also contact your state radon program for information on how to obtain a test kit. Some states offer discounted or free test kits. Make sure your radon kit meets EPA standards because consumer-grade monitors may not be as accurate, especially at low levels of radon.
- Test before renting or buying a home. Request a radon test before renting or purchasing a home long term. Home sellers may not want to disclose a radon issue so often don’t test.
- Tell your friends and family. Radon can be found within any building, so let your friends and family know they should test their homes as well.
- Solve your radon problem. If high levels of radon are detected in your home, you can install a radon reduction system. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. This consumer’s guide from the EPA outlines radon reduction techniques you can use to fix your home.
- Stop smoking. When you quit smoking, you greatly reduce your risk for respiratory diseases, including lung cancer. The presence of smoke particles increases the radiation dose from radon, so when you stop smoking, your risk for radon-induced lung cancer decreases. If you’re ready to quit smoking, get the support you deserve to help you on your If you already have asthma or COPD, get treated so your lungs don’t retain as much of the air you breathe.
Resources
- A Citizen’s Guide to Radon is a great resource from the EPA. It explains how to test your home, why it’s important and offers several helpful resources as well.
- The American Lung Association offers radon-related information and resources, including answers to frequently asked questions, details about radon mitigation measures and more.
- The EPA offers several resources to help you learn more about radon, its health effects and how to mitigate your risk. The EPA also suggests the following hotlines:
- 1-800-SOS-RADON (767-7236) to purchase radon test kits by phone
- 1-800-55RADON (557-2366) to get live help for your radon questions
- 1-800-644-6999 for general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home
- 1-800-426-4791 for general information on drinking water, radon in water, testing and treatment, and standards for radon drinking water
As the EPA says, radon is a health hazard with a simple solution. Getting your home tested for radon only takes a few minutes and it could help save your life.