January is Radon Action Month

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Lung Cancer results in an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually, making lung cancer one of the top 10 causes of all cancer mortalities in the US. Unfortunately, because of the magnitude of smoking induced cancers, the risk posed by radon is often overlooked. The combined health effects of radon and tobacco are synergistic either of the exposures substantially reduces lung cancer risks.

The West Virginia (OEHS) and the EPA encourages homeowners to have their homes tested for radon. Free radon test kits can be obtained by any West Virginia resident by calling the Radon Hotline at 1-800-922-1255. These test kits include instructions and take 2 days to collect data. Once the data is collected, the homeowner then mails the test kit to the laboratory for analysis.