Have you checked your radon lately?

You make new year’s resolutions to exercise more, eat better, and manage your stress, but have you thought about resolving to improve the health of your home? January is National Radon Action Month, the perfect time for you to test your radon levels and protect your family’s health.
You make new year’s resolutions to exercise more, eat better, and manage your stress, but have you thought about resolving to improve the health of your home? January is National Radon Action Month, the perfect time for you to test your radon levels and protect your family’s health.

Radon is dangerous

Experts report that elevated radon levels are found in roughly 1 in 15 homes nationwide. You may be asking “What’s the big deal?” since radon is a naturally occurring gas in the soil. The big deal is that radon comes from the decay of uranium and can accumulate to high levels inside your home. Elevated levels of this colorless, odorless gas are a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Protect your family from radon

As part of National Radon Action Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today steps the public can take to test, fix and save a life from dangerous radon gas.“Testing for radon is one of the easiest and smartest things people can do to protect their homes and families from this serious health risk,” says Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “Addressing high radon levels greatly reduces exposure to the second leading cause of lung cancer.” Here’s how to protect your home.

Test

All buildings with or without basements should be tested for radon. Affordable Do-It-Yourself radon test kits are available online and at home improvement and hardware stores, or a qualified radon tester can be hired.

Fix

The EPA recommends taking action to fix radon levels at or above 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L) and contacting a qualified radon-reduction contractor.

Save a Life

Did you know that 21,000 Americans die from radon related lung cancer each year? Good news: by addressing elevated levels, you can help prevent lung cancer while creating a healthier home and community.

You can learn more on how to test, find a qualified radon professional, obtain a test kit or contact your state radon office at EPA.gov/radon or call 1-800-SOS-RADON

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