Five Facts About Radon for National Radon Action Month

1. Radon exposure can cause lung cancer.
Exposure to radon can cause lung cancer, even in healthy individuals. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, EPA estimates. Because of the significant health risk to families all over the country, and the inability to detect radon by sight or smell, the U.S. Surgeon General recommends that all homes be tested for radon. Your risk of developing lung cancer from radon depends mostly on how much radon is in your home, the amount of time you spend in your home and whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked.

2. New AND older homes can have high radon levels.
Whether your home is old or new, radon may be present at elevated levels. Because radon comes from the soil, the geology of an area can help predict the potential for elevated indoor radon levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked with state and federal geologists to develop interactive maps which predict the potential indoor radon levels for every county in the United States. However, testing is the only way to know if your family is at risk from radon.

3. Testing is easy and inexpensive.
The good news is that health threats from radon are completely preventable. Home tests are widely available, inexpensive (under $30 a test) and easy to administer yourself. Not a do-it-yourselfer? Hire a qualified radon professional to test your home. Short-term and long-term radon test kits can be purchased at many county extension offices or online through the National Radon Program.

If this is your first time testing for radon--or first time in a 2-5 years, you may consider starting with a short-term test kit. Then, depending on your results, a long-term test kit might be an option for your follow-up, confirmation test. For questions on which test is right for you, call the National Radon Hotline at (800) 767-7236.

4. Radon problems can be fixed.
Radon reduction systems work. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Install a radon mitigation system in your home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. The cost to reduce radon levels in homes depends on where you live, and how your home was built. In most homes, radon mitigation system installation costs are in the $1,000 - $1,500 ballpark; about the same cost as other common home repairs. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems.

5. More people need to know about the importance of testing their home for radon.
Right now, families are spending more time at home than ever. There is one cancer prevention message that takes only one question to make a lifelong impact for an entire family; simply asking the question “Have you tested your home for radon?”

This is why WSU Environmental Finance Center is partnering with healthcare providers in Wichita to raise awareness of radon risks and add the question, “Have you tested your home for radon?” to the standard list of questions patients are asked when they visit their family doctor.

Physicians are families’ trusted source of cancer and disease prevention information. If you are a healthcare provider in the Wichita area, please submit our online pledge form to tell us how you are taking radon action in 2021! Find more radon resources and information for healthcare providers at www.wichita.edu/RadonActionICT.