“Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment and can cause cancer. Unlike better-known home hazards like asbestos and lead-based paint, many people are unaware of the danger of household radon exposure. Every year, radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 1 of 15 homes in the United States (as many as 1 of 3 homes in some states)—about 7 million homes—have high radon levels.
Radon exposure is thought to cause more deaths each year than other household dangers like poisoning, falls, fires, and drowning. Lung cancer caused by radon costs about $2 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity each year.” – CDC’s Household Radon Fact Sheet
Resources:
Toxicological Profile for Radon (2012) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Reducing Environmental Health Risk: What We Can Do Now (2009) President’s Cancer Report, National Cancer Institute
Health Risks of Radon (links to multiple documents) Environmental Protection Agency’s Radon Program
Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective (2009) World Health Organization