RADON TESTING

WHAT IS RADON?

Radon is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. Radon occurs naturally outdoors and is disbursed in trace amounts rendering it mostly harmless.

However, most exposure occurs in homes where it enters and settles in concentrated levels via cracks and openings in a home’s foundation, typically in basements, due to being 7.5 times heavier than air. Since Radon is a noble gas, it can easily be distributed throughout a dwelling via heating and cooling distribution systems.

RADON HEALTH RISKS

Radon is a radioactive gas that rapidly decays and emits alpha particles that can be inhaled into the lungs causing lung cancer. As these particles break down further, they release energy bursts that damage lung tissue. According to the EPA, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking.

One of the most dangerous aspects of Radon is that the effects of exposure occur over many years with no short-term symptoms, where several years may pass between exposure and a cancer diagnosis.

RADON STATISTICS

Based on a 1998 study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the subsequent report, supports the conclusion drawn by the EPA that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. According to the EPA:

RADON DEATHS PER YEAR: 21,000

DRUNK DRIVING DEATHS PER YEAR: 10,839

FALLS IN THE HOME PER YEAR: 8,000

SECOND-HAND SMOKE PER YEAR: 7,330