The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. Here is some important information about radon and health to pass along to you, your co-workers who do not have computer access, and your family.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas. You can’t see, smell, or taste it. Outdoors it’s harmlessly dispersed in the air, but when trapped inside a building, it becomes a health problem. The main hazard of radon is lung cancer. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, radon is responsible for an alarming number of new cases of lung cancer every year.
EPA and the Surgeon General urge all citizens to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive. Test kits that meet EPA standards are readily available. The Linn County Public Health Department has a kit from Air Chek, Inc. at a cost of $4 that includes the lab fees. It works great, is cost efficient, it’s easy to use and you can get fast results from the lab on line. If the test indicates dangerous levels of radon in the home, prompt action should be taken to correct the problem which usually requires the service of an experienced certified professional contractor. The State Public Health Department has a list of certified professionals for Iowa on their web page (idph.state.ia.us).
Should you have any additional questions or concerns about radon gas in your home you can talk to me, Jeff Johnson, by calling my cell # 721-1470 or you can contact Jim Dolittle at the Linn County Public Health Department (892-6000). You can find out more about radon by going on line as well. You can log on to EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/radon/nram/public.html . Why it matters…
· Radon is the leading cause of cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and second leading cause of cancer overall (smokers and nonsmokers).
· According to the U.S. Surgeon General, radon claims the lives of over 20,000 Americans each year.
· A simple, inexpensive test can warn of dangerous levels of radon in the home.
· Most are unaware of the risk of radon and what to do about it.