Veront Business MagazineOne in nearly 15 homes contain high levels of radon, a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, according to the USEnvironmental Protection Agency. An estimated 21,000 people die in the US each year from lung cancer due to exposure to radon in homes and other buildings. Dangerous levels are found in homes in every state, including Vermont.
January is Radon Action Month and the American Lung Association of the Northeast encourages all Vermont residents to take these simple steps to protect their health from this invisible threat:
- Test homes for radon.Inexpensive radon testing kits can be found at many hardware stores oronline. Testing can also be done by acertified radon-testing professional. If dangerous levels of radon are found, homeowners can install a radon mitigation system, for about the same price as a large television, to decrease the risk of harmful exposure.
- Speak up to lower radon risk in other indoor spaces.Radon can build up in all buildings, not only in homes. Speak with local community officials and public health professionals to encourage radon testing – and mitigation systems if high levels are found – in schools and childcare facilities and other public and private facilities.
- Support policy steps in Vermont to reduce radon levels indoors. Concerned Vermont residents should support changes to policies that could lower the risk of exposure to radon, including the adoption of building codes for radon-resistant construction. During real estate transactions, potential buyers should be informed about the radon levels in the home they’re considering.
“You can’t see, taste or smell radon, but it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, which is the number one cancer killer of men and women,” said Jeff Seyler, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast. “This naturally occurring gas comes into our homes through spaces in the walls, floors, basements and foundation with no warning at all, leaving people unaware of the dangerous toxin they are breathing. Testing is easy and it’s the only way for people to know how serious the risk of exposure is. Because most of us keep our homes closed up in colder weather, January provides a great time to test for radon. It’s something every home and business owner in Vermont should do.”
Fighting radon requires workable strategies, and the American Lung Association led the development of theNational Radon Action Planto provide those tools. In 2016, Vice President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot report cited the National Radon Action Plan as a leading effort to save lives. Learn more about radon at Lung.org/radon or call the Lung Association’s toll-freeLung HelpLine(1-800-LUNGUSA).
About the American Lung Association of the Northeast
The American Lung Association of the Northeast serves CT,MA, ME, NH, NY, RI and VT. We are part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease.
Source: Williston, VT (January 12, 2017) –www.Lung.org