Got Radon?

Chances are you do. Should you care? Probably, especially if you don't want to live with the leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. Radon is a naturally occuring radioactive gas that comes from decaying uranium. It's literally everywhere, though some places have significantly higher doses than others. Reno/Tahoe is one of those higher places and the radon hazard can be especially acute during the winter months when we button up our houses against the cold. Smokers are obviously at high risk if they live in a radon-rich environment. With their smaller lungs and higher breathing rates, children are especially susceptible as well.

Inexpensive radon test kits are available from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Should your home prove to have elevated radon levels, there are a variety of mitigation measures you can take to eliminate the hazard. Getting rid of radon isn't free, but it's a bargain compared to lung cancer.

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