Four Things You Can Do During National Radon Action Month

Did you know radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America? During the month of January each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages homeowners to learn about radon and how to help prevent unnecessary exposure. Each year, thousands of deaths are attributed to radon exposure in the US.

What is radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless natural gas released in rock, soil,  and water. It can build up in homes of all types (new/old, well sealed/drafty, with or without basements) and even next-door neighbors may have different levels of radon. Breathing radon can increase your risk of lung cancer. There isn’t a known safe level of exposure to radon (i.e., what levels are safe in a home), so the EPA recommends remediating your home if a radon test shows 4pCi/L or more.

What can you do during National Radon Action Month?

from the EPA:

Test/Mitigate your home – EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. You can buy a radon test kit at a hardware store, contact us to help you find a radon testing professional, or visit the Indiana Radon professionals webpage. Take the results seriously and work with a radon professional to mitigate your home.

Attend a National Radon Action Month event in your area – Look for radon events around town. (We haven’t found any yet, have you??)

Spread the word – Spend time during National Radon Action Month encouraging others to learn about radon and test their homes.

• Tell your family and friends about the health risk of radon. Encourage them to test their homes.
• Plan an activity  in your community to help raise awareness.
• Write an op-ed or letter to the editor using samples from the event planning resources.
• Attract media attention by working with a local official to get a radon proclamation.
• View or order EPA’s free radon publications.

Buy a radon-resistant home – If you are considering buying a new home, look for builders who use radon-resistant new construction. Read more about radon-resistant new construction, “Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide to Build Radon-Resistant Homes“