Radon is a serious health risk facing tens of thousands of Americans. Exposure to radon gas causes more than 20,000 deaths annually and it is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. To protect the lives of all Americans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. This is a great opportunity to increase awareness of radon; promote radon testing and mitigation; and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction practices.

The challenge with radon is that we can’t see, smell, or taste it, so it’s easy to forget that radon may be a problem in any home, school, or building in the country. Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk and testing radon levels in your home can help prevent unnecessary exposure. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family:

• Test your home – EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. Testing is easy and inexpensive
• Learn more about testing your home, including how to obtain an easy-to-use test kit: https://www.epa.gov/.../find-radon-test-kit-or...
• Buy a radon-resistant home - Read more about radon-resistant new construction, "Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide to Build Radon-Resistant Homes": https://www.epa.gov/.../2014-08/documents/buildradonout.pdf

More Things You Can Do During National Radon Action Month:

• Attend a National Radon Action Month event in your area - Look for radon events in your community
• 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

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/radon

Credit: EPA

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