Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, but unsafe exposure is preventable
Louisville, KY, January 5, 2023 – This year more than 21,000 Americans will lose their battle to radon-induced lung cancer – that’s one life lost every 25 minutes. January is designated as National Radon Action Month – a time to focus on protecting our communities and saving lives through preventing radon-induced lung cancer.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that rises from underground as Uranium decays. It can enter buildings through joints or cracks in the foundation, water supply lines, or other entry points. Since you can’t see, smell, or taste it, it can easily go undetected and accumulate at hazardous levels in any home or building. Exposure to radon can be deadly, as inhaling the radioactive particles can cause damage to the lungs. The only way to know your risk of radon exposure is to test the places where you spend time indoors.
“Radon is responsible for about 1 in 5 of all lung cancer cases, but many of these cases can be prevented through proactive attention and increased awareness,” said Kyle Hoylman, CEO of Protect Environmental, a national environmental consulting and construction company focusing on radon and chemical vapor intrusion management. “The EPA recommends mitigation of buildings containing a radon level of 4.0 pCi/L or higher. To add perspective to this number – exposure at the EPA’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L is equivalent to receiving 200 chest x-rays per year or smoking eight cigarettes per day.”
Counter to common belief, radon can be trapped in any home or building in contact with the ground. Radon doesn’t discriminate between homes with or without a basement, new or old homes, residential or commercial buildings – any building runs a risk of having elevated radon levels. Increased levels have been found in every state, according to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR).
The first step in understanding your radon risk is to test the place where you likely spend the most time indoors – your home. Low-cost test kits are available through our partner, RAdata Analytical Lab. If elevated levels are identified in your home, effective and affordable mitigation options are available through Protect Environmental.
About Protect Environmental
Protect Environmental is a national leader in the environmental consulting and construction industry, focusing on radon and chemical vapor intrusion management. With a proven track record spanning 18 years and more than 200,000 completed projects in all 50 U.S. states and 2 U.S. territories, the company delivers expert service from its trusted professionals to provide peace of mind protection to property owners seeking to build and maintain healthy, safe, and sustainable indoor environments. For more information, call 502-410-5000 or click on https://www.protectenvironmental.com.
