What is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas you can’t see, feel, taste, or smell. It starts as uranium, a heavy metal found in the ground and most rocks on the planet. When uranium decays, it turns into another metal called radium. When radium breaks down, it becomes radon. Radon gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air and water. It can be in the air around you, but it’s usually in very small amounts that aren’t harmful. Large amounts of radon cause health problems. Even though it’s a natural gas that comes from the earth, it can be toxic if you breathe in a lot of it over a long time. But there are some reliable ways you can keep your exposure low Radon-associated lung cancer can be prevented by limiting exposure to radon in indoor air. You can start by testing your home for radon levels and installing a radon reduction system, if necessary.
Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that is released naturally from rocks, soil, and water. Radon can enter homes and buildings through small cracks or holes and accumulate in the air. Over time, inhaling high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.
Impact of Radon
When you inhale radon, radioactive materials can become trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive materials increase the risk of lung cancer. It can take years before health problems develop.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths after smoking. People who smoke and are exposed to radon have a 10 times greater risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure compared to people who do not smoke and are exposed to the same levels of radon.
The only way to know if radon levels in your home are high is with a radon test. Measure your home’s radon levels:
- If you have never tested or radon levels are unknown.
- When preparing to buy or sell the home.
- Before and after making renovations, especially after making repairs to reduce radon levels.
- Before making lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (such as converting a basement to a bedroom).
Contact your state radon control office for specific information and resources in your area for testing and for a list of companies and entities qualified to test for radon. You can hire a company to test for radon or purchase a radon test kit and test yourself.
Radon Abatement
Consider contacting a licensed professional to install a radon reduction system (also known as a radon mitigation system) in your home. The EPA recommends installing a system if radon levels are above 4 picocuries per liter (pCI/L) of air. A “picocurie” is a common unit of measurement for the amount of radioactivity.
Other Steps You Can Take
The About Radon | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends some additional steps you can take to reduce high radon levels in your home and to protect against an increased risk of lung cancer.
- Open windows and use fans and vents to increase air circulation in your home. But remember that natural ventilation in any type of home is only a temporary strategy to reduce radon.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
- Contact your state radon control office for a list of qualified contractors in your area, as well as information on how to fix radon problems yourself. Always retest after repairs are completed to make sure you have fixed the radon problem.
- If you are buying a new home, ask about radon-resistant construction techniques.
Radon is also in water that comes from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, but most of it is released into the air before the water gets to you. If your home’s water supply comes from a well or another groundwater source, it may have more radon than water from a treatment facility.
Radon is part of the environment and generally isn’t harmful. However long-term exposure to high levels of radon can put you at risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you smoke.
Testing for radon is inexpensive and easy to do, so don’t hesitate to get started. And if you do find that there’s too much radon in your home, there are known remedies to make your home a safer place.
