Summary
You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
There are low levels of radon outdoors. Indoors, there can be high levels. Radon can enter homes and buildings through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations. Radon can also be in your water, especially well water. Testing is the only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels. It is inexpensive and easy. You can buy a test kit at most hardware stores or hire someone to do a test. Radon reduction systems can bring the amount of radon down to a safe level. The cost depends on the size and design of your home.
Resources
- Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division) Also in Spanish
- Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division)
- Health Risk of Radon (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division)
- Radon (American Lung Association)
- Radon (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
-
Radon and Cancer
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Radon Resources for Home Buyers and Sellers (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division)
-
Tox Town
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
- What Is Radon? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Radon Hotlines and Information Resources (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division)
Children
- Learning about Radon: A Part of Nature (Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division) - PDF
- Radon in Schools (Environmental Protection Agency)