Radon, a radioactive yet colorless and odorless gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. About 20,000 people die of it each year.
This week on “Take Care,” John Martin discusses how radon makes its way into homes and how people can eliminate it. John Martin is an Environmental Protection Agency spokesman.
Radon occurs naturally, as a product of uranium.
“Most of the radon in indoor air comes from soil underneath the home so as uranium breaks down, radon gas forms and seeps into the house,” Martin says.
Experts recommend that all residences be tested with a home kit that can be ordered through the New York State Department of Health website.
A radon test kit costs $8.50, per detector, and the tests can be performed by a family member or a licensed professional.
Martin says there are parts of New York state that have higher levels of radon like the Southern Tier, in particular.
“From Buffalo all the way to Albany, that’s typically where you will find radon in homes and other buildings,” Martin says. “But in reality, radon can be found in every state in the union. So across the United States there are parts of each state that do have elevated radon levels.”
Once radon is found in the home, the solution is to install a 3-inch pump throughout the house that vents the radon off of the roof.
If radon goes unchecked, it can cause serious health problems.
“Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers,” Martin says. “So, if you’re a non-smoker and if you are concerned about lung cancer, as you should be, I would urge you to pay more attention to radon and the possibility that your home does have radon.”
Although radon is found in the soil, even people who live in high-rise buildings can find it in their home.
“You won’t typically just find radon in the basement or the lower floors, radon can continue to course its way throughout the home,” Martin says.
You could also be at risk if your home uses groundwater. If there is radon in the soil, the gas can accumulate into the groundwater after dissolving and “when water that contains radon is used in the home for showering, washing dishes and cooking, that radon gas can escape from the water and then go into the air,” Martin says.
If your home does use groundwater, Martin urges you to contact the EPA safe drinking water hotline to get information on how you can test your water for radon.