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Prevent Lung Cancer: Raising Radon Awareness
by Janelle Sorensen
Most of us know better than to expose our children to cigarette smoke, but are you preventing exposure to the second leading cause of lung cancer? Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that is released in rock, soil, and water from the natural decay of uranium. It seeps into buildings and contaminates indoor air. You can't see, smell, or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home.
Four Things You Can Do:
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Four Things You Can Do:
- Test your home. EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. Testing is easy and inexpensive. Learn more about testing your home, including how to obtain an easy-to-use test kit.
- Contact your state radon program for information about local radon resources and activities.
- Spread the word.
- Tell your family and friends about the health risks of radon. Encourage them to test their homes.
- Plan an activity in your community to help raise awareness.
- Attract media attention by working with a local official to get a radon proclamation. View tips and a sample proclamation from EPA's Event Planning Kit.
- Buy a radon-resistant home. If you are considering buying a new home, look for builders who use radon-resistant new construction.
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1 Comments:
I am a 52 year old female school teacher. I was diagnosed with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer in December 2008 and immediately had lung surgery to remove the lower lobe of my left lung. Having never smoked or been exposed to 2nd hand smoke at home or work, I started investigating to find out how I ended up with lung cancer. Our home radon test came back at 250 pCi/L. We have lived in the home for five years. After having our home mitigated, the level is down to 1 pCi/L. Thanks for educating others about radon.
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