About Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that can present a serious health hazard. This gas is released through the natural decay of thorium and uranium, which are common, naturally occurring elements found, in varying amounts, in rock, soil and water across the United States. As radon gas decays it releases small bursts of energy that can damage lung tissue. According to the National Academy of Science's Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon ," radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and is a serious public health problem. This report, published in February 1998, is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The study fully supports U.S. EPA estimates that radon causes about 14,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

As a means of prevention, EPA and the Office of the Surgeon General recommend that all homes below the third floor be tested for radon. Because radon is invisible and odorless, a simple test is the only way to determine if a home has high radon levels. The EPA recommends mitigating homes with high radon levels with the straight-forward reduction techniques that will work in virtually every home.

NEW in 2003, the US Environmental Protection Agency revised its risk assessment for radon in homes (Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, June 2003, EPA -402-R-03 -0003). Highlights of the new risk assessment include:

  • 21,300 lung cancer deaths per year are due to radon exposure in the home
  • 18,400 of these deaths are among those who have smoked (12% of all smokers who die from lung cancer)
  • 2,900 of these deaths are among those who have never smoked (26% of all nonsmokers who die from lung cancer)

Online Resources for Additional Information on Radon

Radon Health Risks: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about radon health risks.

Sources of Information on Indoor Air Quality: Radon (Rn)
There is no scientific doubt that Radon gas is a known human lung carcinogen.

Indoor Air Radon: Radon Publications
Information on radon-specific publications.

Radon Related Web Links
A list of Web sites and information relating to Radon.