Government Research Indicates More Deaths Linked to Radon Exposure than Previously Known

In April, Health Canada released new updated information about human exposure to radon.  Research by the agency indicates hundreds of additional cases of lung cancer are caused by exposure to radon than previously believed from earlier research.
 
In response, Health Canada published a new informational pamphlet about radon.   It reads, “Long-term exposure to high levels of radon in the home may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. For smokers, the combination of smoking and exposure to radon can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer. Radon exposure is linked to roughly 10% of lung cancers in Canada, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.”  The agency goes on to state that the only way to know if radon is a problem in one’s home is to have it tested.
 
Radon is also a major concern in many parts of the United States.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, “Exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.” 
 
Radon is a radioactive gas that is known to cause cancer.  It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.  The gas can move up through the soil and penetrate buildings through cracks, sumps and other holes in the building slab or foundation. Once inside, it can result in high levels of the gas that people then breathe. 
 
“Radon can be found all over the United States and Canada,” reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, a leading radon home test kit provider.  “Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon in your home, school or place of business.  The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.  IAQ Index’s radon test kit is a quick, accurate and affordable way to learn if a radon could be a threat to your family’s health.”
 
IAQ Index supports a recent educational video about radon that can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/6yOMtXafNwM
 
To learn more about radon or other indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.

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