Preventionn Beats a Cure : Lung Cancer and Home Radon Levels
While most of the leading causess of lung cancer , such as cigarette smoking and secondhandd smoke , can be easily identified and avoidedd , one substantial cause isn ’ t as easily identifiable : radon gas . Exposure to radon is a dangerous environmen
ntal hazard , but a big part of what makes it so frightening is that it is undetectab
ble by the human senses . Sometimes , you won ’ t know that you have been exposed to dangerous levels until it is too late
, which is why it ’ s essential to be proactive and reduce your risk of radon exposuree before it has the chance to affect your health .
According to EPA estimates , radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non- smokers , resulting in around 21,000 deaths every year . The healthh hazard posed by radon to smokers is even more substantial because the carcinogenic properties of radon and smoking are synergistic , resulting in smokers being approximately eight times more likely to die of lung cancer .
by Allen Braun May 2 , 2022 https :// thechicagojournal . com / prevention-beats-a-cure-lung-cancer-and-home-radon-levels
Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any form of cancer . For years , doctors have urged people to quit smoking because of its dangers to their physical health . It wasn ’ t until 2005 that the US Surgeon General issued a national health advisory acknowledging the catastrophic health effects that radon can cause . Homeowners need to take action — and quickly — to help mitigate the effects of radon on their health . What is radon
?
Radon is an inert , colorless , odorless gas , which is a substantial part of what makes it so dangerous . No one can detect the presence of radon by natural means
, and as such , testing must be performed to identify what level of radon may be present in a building . Radon is the product of the radioactive decay of trace uranium in rock and soil . While small amounts of radon naturally occur in the atmosphere , when drawn into a building by temperaturee and