Health officials are urging residents to test for radon

INDIANAPOLIS — Radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in most soil, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer and the No. 1 cause among non-smokers.

It is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates.

January is National Radon Action Month, and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is urging homeowners to test their homes for radon because this tasteless, colorless and odorless gas can build up in homes without residents’ knowledge.

“You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home,” State Health Commissioner Kris Box said. “By testing, Hoosiers can determine whether a high radon level is present and take steps to fix the problem to protect themselves and their families.”

ISDH and the American Lung Association are partnering to provide county health departments throughout Indiana with free radon test kits to distribute to individuals in their communities. A list of local health departments can be found on the ISDH website. Residents also can purchase an inexpensive kit from most home improvement and hardware stores and through some online retailers.

Radon enters homes and other buildings through small cracks and holes in the foundation, where it becomes trapped and accumulates in the air. When people breathe in radon, it damages the lungs. Long-term exposure can eventually cause lung cancer.

Because radon has no taste, smell or color, a home must be tested to find out how much radon is in the air. There is no safe level for radon, but the EPA and U.S. Surgeon General recommend fixing homes that have levels at or above 4pCi/L (picocurie per liter). Nearly one-third of Indiana counties have predicted average indoor radon levels of 4 pCi/L, according to the EPA. A map of those counties can be found here.

If high levels of radon are detected, licensed contractors can install mitigation systems to eliminate the problem and protect occupants of the home.

To learn more about radon, visit the ISDH’s radon page at http://www.in.gov/isdh/24346.htm and the EPA’s “Citizen’s Guide to Radon” at https://www.epa.gov/radon/publications-about-radon.

Visit www.in.gov/isdh for important health and safety information, or follow on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/isdh1.