2nd leading cause of LUNG CANCER… in your HOME?!

Pop quiz…

What’s the #1 cause of lung cancer?

Without hesitation, you probably rattled off SMOKING as your answer… and you’d be right.

And while smoking is the overwhelming leading cause, the second ISN’T as obvious.

But it could be silently lurking INSIDE YOUR HOME.

Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to identify it… and eliminate your exposure.

According to findings published in the online journal Environmental Health Perspectives, prolonged exposure to RADON (even at low levels) continues to be a leading cause of lung cancer.

(Even the American Lung Association ranks radon as lung cancer’s second-leading cause!)

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that exists naturally in soil. It comes up through the soil and enters buildings through small gaps and cracks.

But here’s the real kicker…

One out of every 15 homes in the U.S. are considered to be subject to radon exposure!

Which means radon can come up from the ground underneath your home… build up inside… and then break down into radioactive particles.

You then breathe in the particles, which can attack your lung tissue.

But I have a breath of fresh air (pun intended) …
The study looked at prolonged exposure – meaning that the link between radon and lung cancer is over a very long period of time and not overnight.

If you aren’t sure if your home has detectable levels of radon… you can easily find out AND take steps to eliminate your exposure.

First, get yourself a radon test kit. You can find one on Amazon for about $20.

That will answer whether or not you have radon in your home.

Second, if you DO have high levels of radon, start by opening your windows more frequently. This will increase natural air flow. You should also seal any noticeable cracks in your floors and walls with plaster or caulk.

Third, you can look into getting a vent-and-fan setup that a contractor can install fairly easily.

The cost of these systems varies, so get a few estimates.

To clean air,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Medical Xpress. “New study finds prolonged, low-level radon exposure is still a leading cause of lung cancer.” https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-prolonged-low-level-radon-exposure-lung.html

American Lung Association. “Lung Cancer Causes & Risk Factors.” https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/basics/what-causes-lung-cancer