Table of Contents
During January for Radon Action Month, the American Lung Association in Virginia is urging everyone to test their home for radon.
The "State of Lung Cancer" report reveals that radon is detected at high levels in about 25 percent of homes in Virginia.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from the ground. Radon can enter a home through cracks in floors, basement walls, foundations and other openings. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked.
Do-it-yourself radon test kits are simple to use and inexpensive. EPA urges anyone with radon levels at or above 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) to take action to install a mitigation system, which collects radon gas from underneath the foundation and vents it to the outside of a home. A typical radon mitigation system consists of a vent pipe, fan, and properly sealing cracks and other openings.
For details about radon testing and mitigation, visit www.Lung.org/Radon.
