Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Although radon problems are not common in Louisiana, elevated levels have been found in some homes, says LSU AgCenter housing professor Dr. Claudette Reichel.
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful at elevated levels. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.
A 1998 report of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) confirmed prior scientific consensus that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and that it is a serious public health problem. The NAS concluded that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Reichel says that because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to minimize the health effects and ignore the possibility that it might exist in elevated levels in their own homes.
The LSU AgCenter housing expert says testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. And, if discovered, radon problems can be fixed.
Radon test kits that meet EPA guidelines are available at local hardware stores, home improvement stores, some supermarkets, other retail outlets or directly from a laboratory. Many are priced under $25. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that for may common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed - anywhere from $500 to about $2,500.
"Despite the relatively low incidence in our state, it’s far better to know for certain than to assume your home has no risk," Reichel says. She urges residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Week, October 19-25, by testing their homes for elevated levels of radon.
"Radon is a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution," the housing expert emphasizes.
For more information on radon and other indoor air hazards, Reichel recommends visiting the Web sites www.healthyindoorair.org and www.epa.gov/iaq. For local information and educational programs in other areas of family and consumer sciences, including nutrition and health, parenting and family economics, log on to the LSU AgCenter Web site at www.lsuagcenter.com or call your parish LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension office.