Radon exposure can lead to many health risks. The most common health risk associated to radon is lung cancer. Breathing in high levels of radon increases your risk of lung cancer. The EPA has estimated that approximately 20,000 deaths occur each year from radon related lung cancer. If you smoke, your chances of lung cancer from both smoking & radon exposure greatly increase.
Lung cancer has many symptoms. Among these symptoms is a cough that does not go away & gets worse with time. Overtime, this cough may produce blood & result in hoarseness. When you have any cancer, you have an increased health risk of coming down with other infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. These infections are often reoccurring & are difficult to treat.
If lung cancer spreads to other areas & organs in your body, there are more health risks. Bone pain, nervous system changes, the yellowing of skin & eyes, and new lumps near the surface of your skin are all signs that the cancer has spread.
The good news is that you can minimize your health risks associated to radon exposure. Having your home tested for radon is the first place to start. Once you receive your test results, you can determine if you have high levels of radon. If your levels are higher than 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA recommends having a radon reduction system installed. These systems pull the radon out and away from your home.
To have your home tested, as well as installing a radon mitigation system, it is recommended you contact a licensed radon contractor.
There are many serious health risks associated with radon exposure. The scariest health risk is lung cancer. Luckily, radon can be reduced easily, without breaking the bank. Test your home today. Encourage your friends & family to do the same.
