Radon, What you don't know could eventually kill you

Radon is a carcinogenic gas that is hazardous to inhale. Build-up of Radon in homes is a health concern and many lung cancer cases are attributed to Radon exposure each year. More than 20,000 Americans die of Radon-related lung cancer each year. About 12% of all lung cancer deaths are directly attributed to Radon exposure.

You cannot see, smell, or taste Radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing Radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high Radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Testing is the only way to find out your home's Radon levels.

Radon has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon can also enter your home through well water and your home can trap Radon inside.

Any home can have a Radon problem.

This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, homes on a slab or a crawlspace, with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time.

• Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated Radon level.
• Elevated levels of Radon gas are found in homes throughout the Triangle
• Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer

The U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona Issues National Health Advisory on Radon Read the Surgeon General's News Release

Studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential Radon exposure and lung cancer. Read the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Press Release

Read the EPA publication A Citizens Guide To Radon

Read Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

For more information please visit the EPA Radon information index at: Radon Index

And by all means, please have your home tested!