Radon second only to cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer - Home testing for radon is one way to fight it
During January, National Radon Action Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Surgeon General urge Americans to test their homes for radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas that claims tens of thousands of lives each year.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking in the U.S. and in the world. When radon is trapped in buildings and concentrations build up indoors, exposure becomes a concern. Breathing indoor air with radon can damage lung tissue and lead to cancer.
“Many people are not aware that breathing radon can cause lung cancer, but the science is strong,” said EPA Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh. “Radon-related deaths can be prevented. Our hope is that people will understand the potential health risk and test their homes for radon and fix any problems they find.”
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 am and is filed under Research, Radon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.