Radon

Topic Overview

What is radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that causes cancer. Radon is found in rock, soil, water, some building materials, and natural gas. You can't see, taste, or smell it.

How does radon exposure occur?

Any home, school, office, or other building can have high levels of radon. Radon is found in new and old buildings. It can seep in through the foundation of a house built on radon-contaminated soil. Then the radon may get trapped inside the house. It sinks to the low points in buildings, so it often is found in basements. But a building can have high levels of radon even if there is no basement.

Studies show that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has unsafe levels of radon.^{1, 2} The U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that all homes be tested for radon levels.

What are the health effects of radon exposure?

Over time, exposure to radon can cause lung cancer. Radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoking.¹ People who smoke have an even higher risk of lung cancer from radon exposure than people who don't smoke.

How can you find and remove high levels of radon?

You can test for radon using a do-it-yourself test. Use only home tests that are labeled "meets EPA requirements."

You also can hire a qualified tester to do the test. Call the EPA National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236) for help finding a tester.

If tests find a high level of radon, you'll need to reduce it. There are two ways to do this:

• Prevent radon from entering the building.
• Vent radon out of the building.

If you hire a company to vent radon from your home or office, make sure the company follows the guidelines set by the EPA. If you live outside the U.S., you can call your regional environmental protection office for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about radon:	What is radon? How does radon exposure occur? What are the health effects of radon exposure? What increases my risk of radon exposure? Can radon exposure be prevented?
Testing for radon:	How can I test radon levels in my home or workplace?
Health effects of radon exposure:	Does radon exposure increase my risk for lung cancer? What other health problems can radon cause? Are there any symptoms of radon exposure?

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: January 29, 2009
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
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