When most people think of lung cancer, they think of people smoking cigarettes. Granted, this is a common way to contract lung cancer. But, do you know what the second leading cause of lung cancer is in the United States? Radon.

Though estimates vary, approximately 14,000 people die each year as a result of radon induced lung cancer. Radon is a gas that cannot be smelled or tasted. Experts have become much more sophisticated in understanding radon exposure over the past ten years.

Radon is found in every state in the United States. However, there are some states which are more radon prone. The hottest radon spots are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. But radon is common in many other states. Everyone should take notice of this potential danger.

New home purchasers, especially those purchasing houses in states known to have heavier radon problems, need to determine whether the house contains unsafe radon levels. When making this inquiry, is important to rely upon an individual with experience in this area. And, any testing that is done must utilize methods approved by the government.

Radon usually comes from certain rocks that contain radioactive particles. Radon enters homes through small foundation cracks. Also, drinking water that comes into contact with these rocks can also become radon infected.

In the air, radon is measured in picocuries per liter (PCi/l) of air. While the EPA recommends no action for levels under 4 Pci/l, this does not mean that you should not take some protective measures. Action is recommended if indoor air levels exceed 4 PCi/l. Prompt action is urged when levels exceed 200 PCi/l.

Radon detection kits can be purchased for approximately fifteen dollars. They are fairly simple to you use and are readily available at hardware and department stores. When the test is completed, users mail their air samples to the manufacturer for analysis.

One popular commercially available test relies on a charcoal canister, which provides results following a two to seven-day period of evaluation. Other tests can last for months.

Since radon levels can vary by season, long term testing might provide the most accurate information. Short term tests might miss seasonal fluctuations, and thus might be less reliable.

There are two methods for dealing with high radon levels. One method involve plugging the small foundation holes to keep it out of the building. The second requires installation of a pipe that connects the sub-terrain soils to an attic ventilation fan. The idea is to pull the radon out of the soil and into the atmosphere. This may cost, on average, two thousand dollars.

Though certain portions of the U.S. are known hot spots, radon may be located anywhere. Every state has a radon information phone number which can provide additional testing and cure information.

As you can see, radon is serious business. Just because it cannot be seen, does not mean it is not present. If you are buying a house, a radon test may make sense before you close, not after. If radon is found, inform the seller and determine who it is that must pay for the fix.

The key is that you must take this seriously. Because people can't see it, they tend to want to ignore it. In this case, ignorance is not bliss.

Published: October 21, 1998

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Stuart Lieberman only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq. writes about environmental issues. He was a New Jersey Deputy Attorney General assigned to the State Department of Environmental Protection from 1986 to 1990. Currently he is a shareholder in the environmental law firm of Lieberman & Blecher, P.C., located in Princeton, New Jersey. Stuart can be reached at slieberman@liebermanblecher.com.