Odorless, tasteless, and colorless, radon gas may be an intruder in your home right now. Are you aware of how safe your family is against its potentially fatal and harmful effects?
One lung cancer connected to radon kills a person in the United States every 25 minutes. It is the primary cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the greatest environmental cause of cancer-related deaths.
Given that radon gas is a naturally occurring gas, how can it become a significant health risk? Radon is created when radioactive metals decay and enter the earth’s soil. Radon can enter homes and buildings through cracks, exposing occupants to the gas. If left unchecked, the gas can build up to dangerous concentrations that can result in lung cancer.
The Connection Between Radon and Lung Cancer Research indicates that both smokers and nonsmokers are at risk for lung cancer due to radon exposure. Over the past few decades, numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed that dwellings with hazardous radon levels put their occupants at higher risk of lung cancer. One radioactive gas that might lodge itself in your lungs is radon. It is improbable that short exposure to radon may result in lung cancer. Lung cancer, however, can result from prolonged exposure to radon.
According to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. According to Nancy Torrison, executive director of the ABOH, “it’s truly a public health issue, yet so many people are unaware of the danger that could be present in their own home.” “Those who are concerned about their home’s safety should have their radon levels checked. Radon is a preventable cause of lung cancer cases.”
Bonnie Mueller from Minnesota is an example of lung cancer brought on by radon. Bonnie was 48 years old, a regular runner, and in good health in May 2013. A few weeks later, she became aware that something was really wrong when she began to have sporadic body aches and a chronic feeling of heaviness in her chest. Bonnie was advised to see a pulmonologist and discovered she had a big growth on her left lung. She received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis shortly after. It was later discovered that the cancer was probably caused by the dangerous radon levels in her home. Bonnie had to endure a challenging round of chemotherapy that summer, which finally caused her to stop responding. However, Bonnie’s tumors started to diminish because of a recently approved medication. Today, her scans reveal nothing at all, defying expectations and odds.
Checking for Radon in Your Home
Since radioactive gas is a naturally occurring substance on Earth, it is hard to completely avoid exposure. Nonetheless, it is imperative that you and your family take precautions against dangerously high indoor radon levels for your health and well-being.
According to EPA estimates, excessive radon levels are present in almost one out of every fifteen households in the US. “Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in radon testing reported to us during home sales,” says Daniel Tranter, supervisor of the MDH Indoor Air Program, in a recent news release from the Minnesota Department of Health. According to the press release, there was an almost 40% decrease in radon testing for new homes in 2022.
You need to test your home to see whether the radon level is safe. Do you know the radon level in your house? It is best practice to have your home tested for radon if you don’t know what the levels are, have recently finished a renovation project, are getting ready to buy or sell a house, or spend a lot of time in the basement or lower level.
The typical indoor radon level, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is roughly 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). When the reading is 4.0 pCi/L or above, intervention is required.
For less than $15, you can buy radon test kits on GZAIR online stores. Another option is to work with a qualified radon tester. Purchasing a radon monitor is an additional choice.
The next step is to have a radon mitigation system installed by a professional if you find that your home has excessive levels of radon gas. The first step in avoiding a potential lung cancer diagnosis is to determine whether you have radon. Mitigation has a cost, and for some homeowners that cost might be high.
Go ahead and give your house a test. It might well save your life.