We are working on many different radon studies, and we are continuing to find harmful effects not limited to the lungs in adults."
– Matthew Bozigar, Oregon State University epidemiologist
" As an epidemiologist, I started considering possible environmental causes and connected with awesome collaborators who provided important data and other resources to enable innovative new analyses," Bozigar explained to Science Daily.
Study results
The study found that children who were exposed to a radon concentration of 2.0 pCi / L or higher had an 8 percent higher risk of leukemia for both males and females and a 12 percent higher risk for females.
To put that in perspective, the average indoor radon concentration in Utah is 4.5 pCi / L, two and a half times higher than the study ' s concentration threshold.
Because radon is odorless and colorless, the only way to detect it is to test for it.
The American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the U. S. Surgeon General, the Environmental Protection Agency and many others encourage every homeowner to test regularly( typically every two years). UtahRadon. org is offering one free test kit for each Utah household.
Children who were exposed to a radon concentration of 2.0 pCi / L or higher had an 8 % higher risk of leukemia for both males and females and a 12 % higher risk for females.( Photo: PeopleImages)