Don’t think radon is a serious issue? Think again. Here are a few statistics to keep in mind.
Radon Causes Cancer
- According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year are related to radon.
- The second leading cause of lung cancer is radon, right after smoking.
- Although the majority of radon-related cancer deaths occurred among smokers, it is estimated that 10 percent of radon-related cancer deaths occur among nonsmokers.
- It has been suggested that radon increases the risk of leukemia in adults and children. Yet there is no conclusive evidence yet.
- Lung cancer caused by radon costs about $2 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity each year.
Radon is Everywhere
- The EPA estimates 1 of every 15 homes in the United States, about 7 million homes, have high radon levels.
- In Pennsylvania, the average level of radon is 8.6 pCi/L — much higher than the EPA’s guidelines of 4 pCi/L.
- The average radon level in Northeastern Pennsylvania is between 4.8 pCi/L and 5.5 pCi/L.
Radon Reduction
- Properly installed radon reduction systems can reduce the levels by as much as 99 percent.
- In Pennsylvania, professionals are required to be certified by the state to test and fix radon levels in homes.
- Pennsylvania also requires radon testing, mitigation, or disclosure of radon levels before any real estate transaction.
