Is Radon Really a Threat

Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. … Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer.

Do I really need to worry about radon?

You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.

How much of a threat is radon?

Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Radon is estimated to cause between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers in a country, depending on the national average radon level and smoking prevalence. Lung cancer risk is higher for smokers due to synergistic effects of radon and cigarette smoking.