Radon and Lung Cancer: What You Don’t Know Can Harm You When Buying a Home

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States. As a certified property 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 owners, do not have their homes tested for radon. In many cases, my clients have also been misinformed by real estate representatives or the media about the prevalence and dangers of radon in lung cancer. Radon tests, if performed by the owner, are inexpensive and only take 48 hours.

Here are some important facts about radon that landlords and renters need to know to protect their family’s health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. 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 by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that causes cancer and cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. The type of construction, foundation, or location does not prevent a radon problem. Their presence in a home can represent a danger to the health of the family. The only way to determine if a home has a radon problem is to take a standardized EPA test. This test can be completed by the owner or a certified professional.

The US Surgeon General and the EPA recommend that every home be tested for radon. All homes can be repaired if a radon problem is detected. The average cost of a radon solution for a home is about $ 1,200. Some home improvement stores sell inexpensive test kits for about $ 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 tests, contact your state radon office for a better quality inexpensive test kit.

If the owner or buyer / seller is unable or unable to test for radon (some states require a professional to complete the test during a real estate transaction), visit the National Environmental Health Association’s radon certification website at: radongas.org/radon_measurement_service.shtml This site has duly certified radon testers like myself listed by cities in your state.

The premature 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 hold 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.