Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in America. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to radon in the home is responsible for approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Though radon is a serious health hazard, you can avoid its damaging effects with proper detection and mitigation.
What is Radon?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that is released when uranium in the earth's soil decays. Radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless. It can accumulate in enclosed areas, such as underground mines and basements. Radon can enter your home through cracks in the floors, walls or foundation. Radon may also be present in drinking water, particularly in well water. The EPA estimates that one in every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels.
Radon and Lung Cancer
Two studies in North America and Europe have shown a definitive link between exposure to radon and lung cancer. The North America study, conducted in 2005, pooled data from several different studies to create the largest radon data set assembled in the United States. The data found an 11 to 21 percent increased lung cancer risk at average radon levels of 3.0 picocuries per liter of air, which is below the EPA's action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. The research "provides unambiguous and direct evidence of an increased lung cancer risk even at residential radon exposure levels below the U.S. EPA's action level," according to R. William Field, Ph.D., a co-author of the study and associate professor of occupational and environmental health and epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Radon in Drinking Water
A 1998 report released by the National Academy of Science (NAS) confirmed that radon present in drinking water has caused deaths due to lung and stomach cancer. Based on the NAS report, the EPA estimates that radon in water causes approximately 168 deaths per year: 89 percent from lung cancer caused by breathing radon gas released from water during showering and other household use, and 11 percent from stomach cancer caused by drinking contaminated water. Radon in water is usually only a concern if your home's water comes from well water or a public water supply system using groundwater.
How to Test Your Home
Inexpensive radon test kits are available at most hardware stores. Some state programs offer low-cost or free kits; see the EPA's website for contact information. Short-term test kits are placed in the lowest level of the home and left in place between two and 90 days. Tests should be placed in a room that is used regularly, but not in a kitchen or bathroom. Windows and outside doors should remain closed as much as possible during the test to ensure accurate readings. When the test is complete, seal the package and send it to the address specified in your test instructions. Test results are usually available within a few weeks. If your result is 4.0 picocuries or higher, you may want to take a long-term test to gain a better reading of your home's year-round average radon level.
Radon Mitigation
If your test results are 4.0 picocuries or higher, there are several methods you can use to reduce the radon levels in your home. Some, such as a vent pipe system with a fan that vents radon to the outside, do not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings in your home will also help. The National Environmental Health Association and the National Radon Safety Board can provide a list of accredited and certified radon mitigation experts who can provide you with estimates based on the extent of the radon problem and the manner in which your home was constructed.
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