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EPA warns of radon risks

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Agency urged people to test their homes for radon, a radioactive gas that can cause cancer.

The EPA said radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

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"Many people are not aware that breathing radon can cause lung cancer but the science is strong," EPA Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh said Thursday in a release. "Radon-related deaths can be prevented. Our hope is that people will understand the potential health risk and test their homes for radon and fix any problems they find."

The National Academy of Sciences and the EPA estimate that radon in homes causes 21,100 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year, with 2,900 of those deaths occurring among people who never smoked.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It enters homes through cracks in basements and foundations and floor drains. Radon can build to unhealthy levels, especially during colder months when windows and doors are kept closed, the EPA said.

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