Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States. As a certified home inspector and radon tester, I find that most new home buyers are unaware of the dangers of radon. As a result of this lack of information, most home buyers, as well as current homeowners, do not have their homes tested for radon. In many cases, my clients have also been misinformed by real estate representatives or the media regarding the prevalence and dangers of radon for lung cancer. Radon testing, if performed by the homeowner, is inexpensive and takes only 48 hours.

Here are some important facts about radon that homeowners and renters need to know to protect their family’s health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US Radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Visit cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html to learn more about a study conducted by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.

Radon is a naturally occurring cancer-causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. The type of construction, foundation or location does not prevent a Radon problem. Their presence in a home can pose a health hazard to a family. The only way to determine if a home has a radon problem is to take an EPA standardized test. This test can be completed by the owner or a certified professional.

The US Surgeon General and the EPA recommend that all homes be tested for radon. All homes can be fixed if a radon problem is found. The average cost of a radon solution for a home is about $1,200. Some home improvement stores sell inexpensive test kits for around $35 (which includes an EPA-certified lab report). However, Consumer Reports recently found that those test kits weren’t very accurate. So if you want to do your own testing, contact your state radon office for a better quality, inexpensive test kit.

If the homeowner or buyer/seller does not or cannot test for radon (some states require a professional to complete the test during a real estate transaction), visit the Association’s radon certification website. National Environmental Health at: radongas.org/radon_measurement_service.shtml This site has properly certified radon testers like myself listed by cities in your state.

The untimely deaths of Peter Jennings and Dana Reeve have raised public awareness of lung cancer, especially among people who have never smoked. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for people with cancer. In many cases, lung cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for radon.

EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month, a time when state radon programs and other partners conduct special radon outreach activities and events across the country. The goal of National Radon Action Month is to increase public awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and promote the use of new radon-resistant building practices.