Radon: the second cause of cancer

Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. and the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or taste, and yet its quiet presence can be extremely dangerous. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Test your home for radon this winter!

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.

The amount of radon in the air is measured in "Pico curies per liter of air," or "pCi/L." There are many kinds of low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets.