Radon causes an estimated 5,000 to 20,000 deaths from lung cancer a year. And it may be in your home, says Judy Wessel, former management and equipment specialist for Ohio State University Extension.
"People should be aware of what radon is and the health threat that it poses," Wessel says. If you're buying a house, ask for a radon check the same as you would a termite inspection. If you've never had your own home checked, buy a kit and follow the instructions.
The odorless, invisible gas comes from decaying radium and uranium, both scattered throughout soil and rock. It usually escapes into the air and is diluted enough to be harmless. But when it seeps into homes through basements or crawl spaces, it can become trapped and accumulate to dangerous levels.
As radon breaks down, it emits alpha particles. When inhaled, the particles can settle in the lungs and damage tissue. The most popular kind of test kit to measure radon is the activated charcoal detector, Wessel says. Labels have directions. Just open the canister and after a few days, send it to a lab for analysis.
If you find that your home has high radon levels, don't panic, Wessel says. "Radon problems are fixable. Simple things like sealing cracks and holes in basement walls can reduce radon levels. Other, more specialized techniques can alleviate more significant problems."
For information, write to the Radiological Health Program, Ohio Dept. of Health, 1224 Kinnear Rd., P.O. Box 118, Columbus, OH 43212. Also, two free booklets, "A Citizen's Guide to Radon" and "Radon Reduction Methods" are available from the U.S. EPA Public Information Center, 820 Quincy St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20011.
