About Radon

Radon Gas

Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, radioactive soil gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. In the United States, an estimated 22,000 people die of radon induced lung cancer annually. One person dies of radon induced lung cancer every 24 minutes. Many of these deaths can be prevented by conducting a simple test and then taking action to reduce elevated radon levels when found. The United States Environmental Protection Agency – USEPA – estimates that 1 in 15 homes have higher than recommended radon levels. In some states, the number sometimes exceeds 1 in 2 homes.

Taking action to reduce radon levels in a home with elevated radon levels result in a communal health risk reduction. With the decreased exposure, everyone living in the home has a decreased risk of contracting radon induced lung cancer.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is defined as cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2013, there will be 228,190 new lung cancer cases and 159, 480 lung cancer deaths.

Lung cancer has a very low five year survival rate. According to the American Lung Association, the lung cancer five-year survival rate (16.3%) is lower than many other leading cancer sites, such as the colon (65.2%), breast (90.0%) and prostate (99.9%). Over half of people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed.

For anyone recently diagnosed with lung cancer, the National Cancer Institute has a booklet which answers many questions and assists with treatment questions at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung.

The American Lung Association has a great deal of information regarding lung cancer at http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/.

For information regarding radon and lung cancer, see either National Cancer Institute websitehttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/radon.