Date Published: 01/08/2020 [Source]
With January being Radon Action Month, The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is urging Idahoans to test their homes for radon. In Idaho, two out five homes tested across the state had higher than recommended radon levels. Living in a home with high radon levels can pose a health risk.
Health officials say radon is the second leading of lung cancer in the U.S., behind smoking, causing an estimated 21,000 deaths annually.
Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that builds up in homes over time. It forms from natural deposits of uranium and radium in Idaho soils. The gas enters homes and buildings through gaps and cracks in crawl spaces and foundations and has been found in every county in Idaho.