Socialebb Strategies and Solutions

Banks and government do not mandate radon testing, even though radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. So says the U.S. Surgeon General, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the American Cancer Society, and scientists worldwide.

What is radon and how does it cause cancer?

"Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground...Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer … proven to beassociated with inhaling radon," according to the National Cancer Institute.

Some years ago when residential radon came on the health radar screens, federal guidelines were developed that recommended residential remediation at levels that were substantially lower than levels in Canada and Europe. Critics cried "foul" and accused the government of pandering to radon remediation companies who were likely to reap more dollars from more stringent guidelines. Time, however, has proven the critics wrong on all counts. Recent studies published in The American Journal of Epidemiology point to higher incidents of lung cancer occurring even in households where the radon levels are at the low end of that scale.

A British report goes even further with the potential for radon risk: "... calculations suggest that
the dose to the basal layers of the skin may also be high, with a consequent possible risk of skin cancer. Unless countermeasures are taken, a smaller number of people may also run a significant risk of stomach cancer from radon ingested in drinking water." (UK National Radiological Protection Board, published in Journal of Radiological Protection 2002

I encourage real estate agents to counsel buyers to have their homes tested for radon. The best way to beat lung cancer is to take a preventive approach.