As cold weather has us spending more time indoors, January has been designated as Radon Action Month. You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but this radioactive gas could be present at a dangerous level in your home.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers, claiming the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. When you breathe air with radon, it can increase your risk of getting lung cancer. Smoking puts you at even greater risk of the cancer-causing effects of radon exposure. Virginia residents can protect their health by testing the indoor air in their homes for unhealthy levels of radon.
What is radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from rocks and dirt in the ground and escapes into the air everywhere. Radon exposure doesn’t cause any immediate symptoms, so it is very easy for people to be unaware that they are being exposed.
Who is at risk? Current and former smokers are much more vulnerable to radon exposure than people who have never smoked. Because radon is a colorless, odorless gas that cannot be detected with your senses, testing the indoor air is the only way to know if you have high radon levels in your home.
Nearly half of all homes in Southwestern Virginia are vulnerable to high levels of radon. In fact, VDH has found high levels of radon in homes in every Virginia county. Homes in the same neighborhood can have differing levels of radon indoors, so the U.S. Surgeon General encourages every household to have their home tested regardless of geographic location or type of foundation of your home.
Why should I test my home for radon in colder weather months?
How can I obtain reduced cost $3 radon home test kits from VDH?
