Radon: What You Don't Know
Can Hurt You. You can't see radon, can't
smell it or taste it. You may never have
even heard of it. But radon may be a problem
in your home that could harm your family.
Radon is a cancer-causing,
radioactive gas that can be found all over
the United States. Radon comes from the
natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in
soil, rock and water and gets into the air
we breathe. Radon tends to accumulate in
enclosed structures, so it is particularly a
problem in homes. Radon is estimated to
cause thousands of deaths each year.
Breathing air that contains radon can cause
lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General
has warned that radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer in the United States
today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer
deaths.
How To Reduce Your
Chances Of Getting Lung Cancer From Radon:
- Test your home for
radon and reduce high levels.
- Be aware that if you
smoke and your home has high radon
levels, the risk of lung cancer is
especially high.
In Indiana, close to
1 in 4 homes tested found elevated radon
levels. On the map, the red counties are
expected to have the highest average radon
levels. The orange counties are expected to
have medium average radon levels. No
counties in Indiana are expected to be in
the low zone. For more information visit the
EPA Map of Radon Zones
for Indiana.
