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The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.: Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building - homes, offices, and schools, both old and new homes - and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels, and radon has present in every state. See the maps below for counties where elevated levels of radon have been found.
| Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones) |
Highest Potential |
| Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones) |
Moderate Potential |
| Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones) |
Low Potential |
North Carolina:
South Carilina:
Risk of developing cancer when exposed to Radon:
Radon Risk If You Smoke
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**... | WHAT TO DO:
Stop smoking and... |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 260 people could get lung cancer |
250 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 150 people could get lung cancer |
200 times the risk of dying in a home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 120 people could get lung cancer |
30 times the risk of dying in a fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 62 people could get lung cancer |
5 times the risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 32 people could get lung cancer |
6 times the risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 20 people could get lung cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon
levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
About 3 people could get lung cancer |
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. |
Radon Risk If You've Never Smoked
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**... | WHAT TO DO: |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 36 people could get lung cancer |
35 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 18 people could get lung cancer |
20 times the risk of dying in a home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 15 people could get lung cancer |
4 times the risk of dying in a fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 7 people could get lung cancer |
The risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 4 person could get lung cancer |
The risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 2 people could get lung cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon levels below
2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
|
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. |
Radon Testing: Radon levels inside the home can change drastically due to environmental conditions such as time of year, rain, strong winds, etc. For these reasons, a Long Term Testis the best way to determine what the average level of radon is in the home. A monitoring device is placed in the home for up to 90 days. However, most real-estate transactions do not allow for long term testing. In these cases, a Short Term Testcan be performed where a testing device is used for less than 90 days, typical 2-4 days. Although "do-it-yourself" kits are available, any testing performed in relation to a real-estate transaction should be performed by a qualified third party using two duplicate testing devices either simultaneously or one immediately after the other.
Contact EPI to get more information and schedule a Radon test for your home, or click on the links below for more information:
Radon Information
EPA Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon
A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon
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