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Testing for radon keeps you and your family safe. For more information about test kits, call or drop by the Environmental Health Office at 216 Boggs Lane in Richmond.
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.
Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
Radon gas from the soil is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water. In a small number ofhomes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home can have a problem. The only way to know about your home is to test.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. You are at an even greater risk for lung cancer if you smoke and are exposed to radon.
Learn more about Radon at http://www.epa.gov/radon/
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