Is radon that big of a deal?

Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

What is radon and why is it a problem?

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you’re at high risk for developing lung cancer. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon.

What are 3 interesting facts about radon?

6 Facts About Radon

• Radon is radioactive. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas.
• Radon causes cancer. Breathing radon can increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
• No immediate symptoms.
• You must test for radon.
• Radon is present indoors and outdoors.
• Radon can build up in any building.

When did radon become a health problem?

In the 1950s radon was recognized as an indoor air pollutant, prompting further research into its health effects in the 1970s. The research clearly labeled radon as a carcinogen, but it wasn’t until 2005 that U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H.

Does every house have radon?

The simple answer is “yes” – at least trace levels of radon will exist in every home. That will mean an old home, new home, drafty home, well insulated home and homes with and without basements. If any part of your foundation is in direct contact with the soil, it has the potential of having elevated levels.

Should I walk away from a house with radon?

“You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home. It’s actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it’s not that expensive,” Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said. Home inspections often include testing for radon – using short term kits.

How was radon discovered in homes?

It was discovered quite by accident through a man named Stanley Watras, who was a construction engineer. In 1984, while working at Limerick Nuclear Power Plant in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, he set off their new radiation detectors.

Is there radon everywhere?

Radon is present in the air nearly everywhere, and everyone breathes in radon every day, according to the National Cancer Institute. Radon levels can be greater in homes and buildings that are well-insulated, tightly sealed or built on soil rich in the radioactive elements uranium, radium and thorium.

When was radon discovered in homes?

But, it’s actually a very interesting tale! It was discovered quite by accident through a man named Stanley Watras, who was a construction engineer. In 1984, while working at Limerick Nuclear Power Plant in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, he set off their new radiation detectors. The rest, as they say, is history!

When did radon testing in homes begin?

1984
Between 1975 and 1978, the Environmental Measurements Laboratory of the US Department of Energy conducted the first detailed indoor radon survey in the USA. Later in 1984, the very high concentrations of radon found in Pennsylvania homes set the wheels in motion and gave birth to the US Radon Industry.

Is radon remediation worth the risk?

The very low action level has been causing undue fear and unwarranted costs to many homeowners as well as a reduction in the market prices of their radon-stigmatized homes. It should also be noted that radon remediation significantly increases lung cancer mortality.

What’s the truth about radon risk models?

Despite that admission, the EPA went ahead with the linear no-threshold model for radon out of an abundance of caution. And that caution isn’t entirely unwarranted. A World Health Organization meta-analysis of three large, previous epidemiological radon risk studies suggested lung cancer cases at 5.4 picocuries per liter.

Is radon gas really that dangerous?

Now, according to the EPA, the WHO, and many other big public health organizations, radon is second only to cigarette smoking as a leading cause for lung cancer. The EPA says radon gas causes 21,000 deaths every year.

What is radon and how does it affect your health?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors the human health effects from exposure to various substances in the environment. The EPA lists radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, estimating it is responsible for about 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year.