Radon is the primary cause of lung cancer among non-smokers

This is the National Radon Action Month so homeowners are being advised to test their houses and the land beneath those.

Health officials of Morris County, Washington D.C. are urging everybody from homeowners to schools and businesses to participate in the Radon Action Month and perform basic tests which could help improve the health of their families.

The National Environmental Protection Agency proclaimed January the Radon Action Month to raise awareness on the health risks posed by this gas.

The presence of radon around your house requires a simple test performed with the help of testing contractors available at home improvement centers, local health departments and even hardware stores.

Radon is an odorless and colorless gas which occurs naturally from the ground. The gas has been linked to lung cancer so Morris County officials are claiming that by raising awareness about the dangers imposed by this gas they could decrease resident’s exposure to it and reduce the rates of lung cancer cases.

Studies have shown that Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset, Sussex and Morris counties have some of the highest concentrations of radon in the entire state.

The EPA with the Department of Environmental Protection recommend homeowners to star taking actions to mitigate radon if the results of the testing show levels of radon higher than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). The gas can usually be drowned out of the house by installing a special venting system.

Radon is a radioactive dangerous gas which is being released when the naturally occurring uranium from rock and soil breaks down. Low uranium levels are found on the territory of all the nation’s states as they occur naturally in the Earth’s crust.

The radioactive gas enters houses through cracks in the foundation or other openings which are found near the ground such as openings around pipes or sum pits. As we breathe the radioactive particles are inhaled in our lungs where they start damaging the tissue leading to serious conditions such as lung cancer if the exposure occurs on a long term.

According to the EPA radon is guilty of killing about 21,000 people each year. The Surgeon General claims that exposure to radon is the primary cause of lung cancer for people who don’t smoke and the second one after cigarettes for smoking folks.

People can purchase their own measurement kits for $15 to $50 or hire a contractor who might charge between $50 and $200 to perform the test. If you hire a contractor make sure they are certified by the state.

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