Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after cigarette smoke. The EPA and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. It takes many years for lung cancer to develop. Most people don't have symptoms until lung cancer is advanced and at that point it is harder to treat. For these reasons, it is important to take steps to reduce radon exposure throughout your life to help prevent lung cancer.
From my point of view, to protect ourselves from radon, the first step is testing—since it’s invisible and odorless, you won’t know it’s there otherwise. You can use a simple kit to measure levels in your home. If they’re high (above 4 pCi/L), a mitigation system—basically a vent pipe and fan—can safely redirect the gas outside. It also helps to seal cracks in floors or walls and improve ventilation, though that alone isn’t enough. For new buildings, radon-resistant construction techniques can prevent issues from the start. And even after mitigation, it’s good practice to retest every few years or after major renovations.
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