Radon Awareness Month: Centers For Disease Control · International Radon Association · New Jersey Dept. Environmental Protection · NJ Radon Testing Specialists · NJ Radon Mitigation Specialists
Governor Murphy proclaimed January 2022 as Radon Action Month, coinciding with a national initiative dedicated to promoting radon awareness, testing and mitigation, and radon resistant new construction.
Radon testing is easy! The best time to test for radon is during the heating season, so January is the perfect time.
Long term or chronic exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second-leading cause of lung cancer among smokers (after smoking) according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The greater the concentration and the longer a person is exposed, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer. Check with your municipal or county health department for free radon test kits or purchase a test kit from a hardware store or a NJ certified radon business.
Identifying and mitigating radon exposure risks is important as the EPA states that it is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. The agency also declares that homes with high levels of radon have been found in every state.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released in rock, soil, and water. In homes and other buildings, it can accumulate to dangerous levels as it moves up through the ground to the indoor air through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
In some situations, radon can also enter through well water. Knowing the radon level indoors, where people spend a considerable amount of time, is important because when building occupants breathe in radon, radioactive particles from it can get trapped in the lungs. Exposure to elevated levels of radon can increase a person’s risk of lung cancer and it may take years before health problems appear.
“Radon can be found all across North America, but the good news is exposure to it is a preventable health risk,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but a simple test can provide the answer. If a problem is discovered, radon mitigation techniques offer a solution.”