An Invisible Killer

It’s important to test your home for potentially deadly radon gas.

April 14th, 2017 by: Misty Milioto

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the United States as a result of radon exposure. Additionally, radon is the country’s No. 2 cause of lung cancer, behind cigarette smoking, and it’s the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.

A recent LawnStarter analysis of data release in January from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that nearly 90 percent of homeowners in the New Orleans area have not tested their homes for the presence of radon gas. The bureau’s 2015 American Housing Survey included 25 major metropolitan areas, and, sadly enough, the New Orleans area has the highest amount of homes that haven’t been tested (followed by Houston and Memphis).

According to the National Cancer Institute, radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that’s released from uranium, thorium and radium found in soil and rocks. It can enter a home through cracks in foundations, floors or walls, and then build up inside the home. You can conduct a radon test yourself, or hire a qualified contractor to do it, but, either way, be sure to test!