Surgeon-General radon health advisoryOn 13 Jan 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, issued a national health advisory to warn the public about the risks of breathing indoor radon. The public was cautioned that radon gas seeping from the ground into homes poses a serious health risk. Exposure to elevated levels of radon is a significant cause of lung cancer, with a higher risk for smokers. The deaths of 20,000 Americans every year is attributed to radon-related lung cancer. High radon levels affect millions of homes (1 in every 15 homes nationwide). Radon, an invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas, is a decay product of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in the earth. However, “Simple test kits can reveal the amount of radon in any building. Those with high levels can be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques.” |
