LungBlog

Six schools in the Halifax area have had higher levels of potentially harmful radon gas than the new, stricter limits Health Canada is considering.

Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.But while most Americans know tobacco smoke is the primary trigger for lung cancer, very few are aware of the risks posed by radon — or that dangerous levels of the gas can be found in many homes.

It could behoove residents of Southwest Colorado to test their home for a silent stalker - odorless, colorless, tasteless radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The average radon reading - based on 165 home tests done a year ago in La Plata and Archuleta counties - was well above the level at which remediation is recommended.

You can’t see it or smell it, but dangerous radon could be an unwelcome guest in your home.

Each year, nearly 20,000 people die from lung cancer caused by exposure to radon. A common source of exposure to radon that can be avoided is exposure in the home, yet only one in five homeowners has actually tested for radon. January is National Radon Action Month and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is urging people to test their homes. 

Exposure to certain types of inhaled particles has been linked to increases in lung cancer risk. The December Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is a special issue providing updates on particles and cancer.

As the winter chill sets in, Americans are settling into their warm, cozy homes. But those houses may be filled with more than holiday joy this season. They also may hold polluted air.