Radon: A Little Known Lung Cancer Risk

Just because you can’t see or smell radon doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you. Radon ranks second only to smoking in causing lung cancer deaths. And this colorless, odorless gas kills nearly 100 times more people every year than carbon monoxide.

Radon is formed naturally when radioactive uranium decays. It can seep from rocks and soil through a building’s foundation. When trapped inside, this dangerous gas can build up, especially in the basement and on the first floor.

To know whether your family is at risk for radon exposure, you should test your home. Buy an inexpensive radon test kit at a hardware store or hire a professional tester. If radon is detected in your home, there are steps you can take to reduce radon levels by 99 percent, significantly slashing your health risk.