Beware of Radon in the Home

Healthy Living

By Geoffrey Pelz On Aug 7, 2024

Summer rain showers may create a potential public health hazard as the rain lowers the air pressure around one’s home, causing radon gas to rise from the soil into the air. 

According to a report by the American Lung Association, nearly 10% of homes in New Jersey and New York have high levels of the radioactive gas, radon. In Pennsylvania, it’s 40%. 

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is naturally released from rocks and soil that can easily slip into homes through small cracks. Over time, radon can build up in the air of a home, especially in enclosed spaces like basements. When you breathe it, radioactive materials can get trapped in your lungs increasing the risk of lung cancer. The risk increases with higher doses over prolonged periods of time. This risk is multiplied in smokers who are at 25 times higher risk than nonsmokers.

While it can take years before any health problems arise, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths after cigarette smoke.

Symptoms of Radon Exposure: There are no symptoms of radon exposure. The only way to know if you are being exposed to radon is via test.

Testing for Radon: The EPA recommends that all homes be tested for radon with a home radon test kit available at most hardware stores and online. Kits may be available for free for some residents from your local health department or state.

Testing for Lung Cancer: The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) for people:

• Age 50 to 80 years old
• Who are current or former smokers with a 20 pack-year smoking history (meaning they smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, or 2 packs per day for 10 years)

Low-dose CT scans provide much more detailed images than standard chest x-rays and were found to diagnose lung cancers earlier (when there is a better chance for a cure) and can reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer by 20% in high-risk patients.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer: Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages, but as it grows, it may cause a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, hoarseness and shortness of breath.

Reducing Radon Levels in Your Home: If your home has high levels of radon, a radon mitigation system can vent radon gas out of your home and into the atmosphere. Contact a certified professional for assistance. 

About the Author: Geoffrey Pelz, MD, is a thoracic surgeon at Hackensack University Medical Center. He specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, with expertise in the treatment of lung cancer. He is a leader in robotic lung and mediastinal surgery, as well as ION robotic bronchoscopy. 

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