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January 14, 2010 - Radon Exposure is Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless naturally occurring gas. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air we breathe. It can be found all over US and Wisconsin, and can get into any type of building resulting in a high level of radon.
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the US is estimated to have high radon levels, according to the EPA.
We are most likely to get the most radon exposure in our homes, since that is where we spend most of our time. The only way to know the amount of radon is to measure it with a test.
Oconto County Public Health offers low-cost radon test kits. Testing your home for radon is easy and takes just a few minutes of your time. Test kits must be picked up from the Public Health Department and will not be mailed to anyone. It is important to follow the instructions included in your test kit. Results will be sent to your home, and if your results are high, a Public Health nurse will contact you to discuss your next steps.
There are two types of radon tests: short term and long term. Oconto County Public Health offers the short term tests, which remain in your home for 48-96 hours. Long term tests remain in your home for at least 90 days and are used if a short term test shows a high radon level.
Radon can be controlled in any house. More than 60 contractors in Wisconsin are nationally certified to install radon control systems if your home has a high level of radon.
Call 920-834-7000 to receive a radon test kit from Oconto County Public Health. For more information on radon, call 1-888-LOW-RADON (1-888-569-7236) or visit lowradon.org. |
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