Date Published: 09/07/2006 [Source]
The U.S. Department of Health has issued advisories encouraging everyone to learn about radon in their homes and the harmful effects of exposure to this odorless gas.
"Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the county," said Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the former U.S. Surgeon General. "It's important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques."
Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas, with no immediate health symptoms, that comes from the breakdown of uranium inside the earth. It can seep into a house through its foundation.
According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, one in every 15 homes nationwide has a high radon level at or above the recommended radon action level.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon causes several thousand preventable lung cancer deaths each year.
However, simple test kits can reveal the amount of radon in any building. These kits are available for around $20 and sometimes are distributed free by local government agencies. Those homes with high levels can be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques.
That's why the government is recommending that homeowners and renters test their homes for radon every two years, and retest any time they move, make structural changes to their homes, or occupy a previously unused level of a house. And radon can occur in seemingly random patterns, with different houses on the same block having a different radon level.
For more information about radon visit the EPA's Web site www.epa.gov/radon; call your state radon office; or call a national toll-free hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).