Radon is Identified as a Major Environmental Hazard in President's Cancer Panel Report
The President's Cancer Panel Report was completed in 2010 and continues to motivate health professionals, public officials, and homeowners to take a closer look at the many environmental factors that are linked to cancer-related illnesses and deaths throughout the country. Among these many factors, radon gas is recognized as a major cause of cancer, linked to over 21,000 deaths per year.
Health experts as well as public officials praised the Cancer Panel Report as the most comprehensive overview of the environmental factors that can cause cancer. Although panel members (doctors, scientists, and other cancer experts) stress that the report is not meant to scare people, their findings clearly point out that environmental contaminants and conditions have been grossly underestimated as causes of cancer. For example, of the approximate 80,000 chemicals currently in use in the United States today, only about two hundred (200) of these have been evaluated for health and safety. As another example, extraordinarily little is known about the long-term effects of cell phone use. Even though a typical cell phone produces only minute amounts of electromagnetic radiation, many parents worry about having children exposed to this radiation from such an early age.
The need for further research looms large if we are to reduce cancer deaths attributable to environmental factors. But radon is an environmental carcinogen about which a great deal of useful information is known. This naturally occurring radioactive gas is emitted by the soil and rocks throughout the U.S. and around the world. In the confined area of a crawl space or basement, radon gas can reach dangerous concentrations that permeate into the living space above. Exposure to this radioactive gas poses a serious cancer risk. In fact, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoke.
Since it's invisible and odorless, radon gas is often overlooked as a health hazard. But it's estimated that nearly 8 million homes in the U.S. (1 out of every 15), have radon levels above the 4 pCi/L (4 picocuries per liter) "action" limit recommended by the Environmental Protection agency. A simple, reliable, inexpensive test (performed by the homeowner or by a radon mitigation contractor) can determine a home's radon level. If your house hasn't been tested for radon, get it tested as soon as possible. If the test shows radon levels above 4 pCi/L, contact an experienced radon mitigation contractor right away. The contractor will be able to use proven abatement techniques to lower exposure levels and protect your family from this cancer-causing gas.
