Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that forms naturally when radioactive metals like uranium, thorium, or radium break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater.
Why is this important?
Exposure to radon is the second leading risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon exposure is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
What is known?
Radon enters a home from the ground through cracks in the floor, basement walls, or gaps in suspended floors. If groundwater is the home's primary source of drinking water, like a well, radon can be present. Exposure to radioactive radon particles over a long period of time increases a person's risk of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer from exposure to radon particles is especially high for people who smoke.
Who is at risk?
- People who live in homes with radon concentrations above the EPA reference level of 4 picocuries per liter
- People who smoke and people who live with others who smoke in the home
Reduce your risk:
- Test your home or office for radon
- Install a radon mitigation system if levels found to be high