When people are asked about home dangers, things like asbestos & lead based paint often come to mind. Very rarely is radon exposure considered a household danger by homeowners. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It comes from the environment-the breakdown of uranium in rock & soil. Long-term, high level exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer.
Each year, approximately 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths occur. It causes more deaths than any other household danger:
– 13,000 cases of poisoning
– 10,000 falls
– 3,000 fires
– 800 drowning
These numbers are unintentional injury-related deaths in the home from the National Vital Statistics System. Radon exposure related deaths account for almost 2 times as many as the second and third combined.
Lung cancer caused by radon exposure costs $2 billion in medical care expenses, as well as lost productivity each year. In Illinois, more than 40% of homes tested were above the EPAs action level of 4.0pCi/L. In 70% of counties, the average radon levels were above the action level.
In response to these figures, Illinois has passed several state laws to help reduce household radon exposure:
– All new residential construction is to include radon-resistant features
– Radon professionals working in Illinois MUST be licensed
– Radon test results have to be reported to the state radon program
– Home sellers are to provide buyers with a radon notification
– Home sellers are to provide radon test results to buyers
– Landlords must disclose any known radon problems to their tenants
They have also recently passed a law that requires schools to be tested for radon at least once every five years. Day care centers (both home based & stand alone facilities) and group homes have to be tested at least once every three years.
Are you surprised by these statistics?
