Tag: radon

Radon Awareness Week

Posted on by ToxTeam

January 27-31, 2025 is Radon Awareness Week. This week is used to bring awareness about the dangers of radon.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is very dangerous because you cannot see, smell or taste it. Breathing in air with radon is not good for your health.

Radon is an odorless and invisible gas that occurs naturally in the ground. Radon can be found in your home from seeping into foundations, cracks, gaps, and sump pumps.

You can protect yourself from the dangers of radon by testing your home for radon. VDH is offering low cost do-it-yourself radon test kits. You can order your tests at this website, Radon Home Test Kit | Virginia Department of Health.

For more information see our radon page or call the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).

January is National Radon Action Month

Posted on by Tox Team

EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is released from rocks under the ground. Radon rises through the ground and can enter homes, where it is found at the highest levels in low areas like basements and the first floor. Breathing high levels of radon over a long period of time increases your risk of lung cancer, especially for people who also smoke.

You can test your home for radon to find out if the levels are too high. If a home does have high levels of radon, you can have a radon reduction system installed that will collect gases rising out of the ground and exhaust them from the home. The Virginia Department of Health Indoor Radon Program provides radon testing kits for only a $3 shipping fee.

January is Radon Action Month

Posted on by Tox Team

EPA has set aside January as Radon Action Month. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, radioactive gas that can slowly seep out of the ground and build up in basements and ground levels of dwellings. High levels of radon in homes are linked to lung cancer, especially in smokers. Fortunately, radon levels can be reduced by installing a radon mitigation system. The first step is to find out whether radon levels in your home are too high, and the best time to do that is in the winter when windows and doors are kept closed and radon levels are highest. To help Virginia residents protect themselves from radon, the Virginia Department of Health is providing $3 radon test kits.  For more information on radon and to order your test kit, visit VDHRadon.org. You can also visit EPA’s radon page and the Virginia Department of Health’s Indoor Radon Program page.

January is National Radon Action Month

Posted on by Tox Team

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is generated by radioactive decay of uranium in rocks underground. Radon rises from the ground and can become trapped in homes, especially in basements and ground level rooms. People who breath high concentrations of radon over a long period of time are at increased risk for lung cancer, and this is especially high for people who also smoke.

The EPA has named January as National Radon Action Month, and encourages everyone to test their homes for radon and remediate them if radon levels are high. VDH’s Indoor Radon Program has a map of radon risk for Virginia showing areas with high and low risk, but even people in low-risk areas should get their home tested. Virginians can get a test kit for only $3 at VDHRadon.org.  You can get more information from VDH’s Indoor Radon Program or EPA’s website on radon.