Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas.
You cannot see, smell or taste radon. It forms naturally from the decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found in the soil and rock throughout Wisconsin. Radon gas in the soil and rock will eventually move into the air and into the water supplies.
Radon is present both indoors and outdoors. It will normally be found at low levels in outdoor air and in the water from rivers and lakes. It can also be found in higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, and in smaller concentrations in water sources such as wells.
Breathing high concentrations of radon can cause lung cancer. Thus, radon is considered a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking; and radon-induced lung cancer the 6th leading cause of cancer death overall, causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.
To Learn More:
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Visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency for more information about radon and its health risks. |
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You can also learn more about radon and its connection to cancer on the American Cancer Society’s web site |