Radon Causes 100 Times More Deaths than Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Elevated Levels of Radon Gas IS a Health Risk
Time and again we are astounded at the significant affect radon gas has on the health of our nation, and yet most people are decidedly unaware of this issue or unwilling to take the simple steps to determine if their home or office has elevated levels of radon gas.
A simple, easy and cheap radon test is the first step to accessing yours and your family’s risk for radon gas exposure.
Radon Gas Facts — Did you know?
If you’re still unsure about the harmful effects of radon gas on you and your family hopefully these radon facts will get your attention and light a fire under you to test your home and office for radon gas.
Radon Facts
- Breathing home indoor radon causes nearly one hundred times more deaths each year than carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.
- Some 20,000 people will die this year due to breathing too much radon without even knowing it.
What is Radon?
Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that seeps into homes undetected through foundation cracks, and can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. It travels up from underground sources of uranium in the earth’s crust. EPA estimates that one in 15 homes will have a radon level of four PicoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or more, a level the agency considers high.
How to Prevent Radon Related Health Issues
The radon threat is preventable with some simple steps. In existing homes, families can begin protecting themselves by buying an easy-to-use radon test kit to determine if a high level exists.
A high level of radon gas can be lowered simply with a straight-forward radon venting system installed by a contractor. In new homes, builders can easily and economically include radon-resistant features during construction, and home buyers should ask for these.
EPA also recommends that home buyers ask their builder to test for radon gas before they move in.
Effects of Radon Prevention
Radon preventive actions have saved an estimated 6,000 lives in the last 20 years. EPA has a goal to double that number, to 12,000 lives saved, in the next five years. All Americans can contribute to saving someones life by testing and reducing high levels in existing homes or testing and building radon-resistant new homes
