Radon And Your Lung Cancer Risk

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. Overall, radon, a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Each year, lung cancer caused by radon exposure kills about 21,000 Americans.

Because you can't see or smell radon, you cant know whether your home has unhealthy levels of the gas unless you have the air tested. However, if tests show that radon is putting you and your family at risk, you can take some simple steps to clear the air.

Craig Schneider, MD,  radiation oncologist and an independent physician who chooses to practice at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis, explains the health risks of radon.

What Are The Health Risks Of Radon?

Simply put, radiation can cause cancer. Like all radioactive substances, radon emits high-energy waves and particles that can bombard the cells in your body. Small amounts of radiation are generally harmless, which is why the occasional X-ray should not be a problem. But larger or long-term doses of radiation can damage your DNA, the genetic material in your cells.

Breathing in radon can expose your lung cells to dangerous levels of radiation. If the DNA in lung cells get too damaged, the cells can turn cancerous and start dividing out of control.

“Radon is present outdoors and indoors,” Dr. Schneider said. “It is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in drinking water from rivers and lakes. It can be found at higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, as well as in water from underground sources, such as well water. Radon is emitted from the ground and can enter a house through floor cracks, basement walls and foundations.

“In Indiana, radon is an issue and is a cause of lung cancer. Not as much as smoking, but certainly a significant amount of lung cancers we see are in people that don’t smoke.”

Exposure to radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and it is the leading cause in people who've never smoked.

Should I Buy A Radon Test Kit For My Home?

According to the National Safety Council, about one out of every 15 homes in this country has elevated levels of radon, including homes new and old, well-constructed and slapdash. Testing is the only way to know if your home has elevated levels of radon. You need to take action to reduce the radon level in your home if it is at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. If the levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L, consider having the level reduced. Levels below 2 pCi/L don't require any action because it's difficult to reduce radon levels to lower than 2 pCi/L.

Do-it-yourself radon testing kits are available online and at many home improvement and hardware stores. The kits are placed in the home for a period of time and then mailed to a lab for analysis. Another option is to hire a qualified radon professional.

If your home has elevated radon levels, a radon-reduction system can be installed to remove radon from beneath your home and harmlessly discharge it outdoors. These systems have a vent pipe and exhaust fan.

If you're building a new home, ask your builder to use radon-resistant construction methods.

“It’s better to be proactive for your own sake and especially your kids, to do a radon test,” Dr. Schneider said.  

How Can I Reduce Radon In My Home?

Levels above 4 pCi/L definitely should be addressed, and between 2 and 4 pCi/L, you may want to take action. Not only will you be protecting your family's health, you'll also be avoiding potential problems down the road if you ever sell your house. You won't need any major renovations to take care of radon, but it's not a do-it-yourself project, either. You'll have to hire a qualified contractor to do the job.

You can contact your state radon board for a list of contractors or find one on your own. If possible, find a contractor who has been certified or licensed by either the National Radon Safety Board or the National Environmental Health Association.

The remedy for radon depends on the structure of your home. In most cases, sealing any cracks or other gaps in the foundation is the first step. The contractor may also install underground pipes and an exhaust fan to expel radon before it can seep into your home. Whatever you need to do to get radon out of your house, it's a relatively inexpensive project with a potentially huge payoff.

Should I Test My Water For Radon?

If you have a radon problem in your house, you may want to find out if your water is contributing a significant amount to the level in your air. There are no federal drinking-water standards for radon yet, but your local water supplier may have figures available. If not, you can have your water tested. If you get your drinking water from a well, the EPA recommends testing your water.

HealthDay News contributed information to this article.