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Americans Urged to Test for Radon
Release Date: 01/08/2004
Contact Information:
John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov
(01/18/04) January is Radon Action Month – an opportune time for Americans to test for radon in their homes. Because families are spending more time indoors during the winter months, January is a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, odorless gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. EPA estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Radon comes from the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the earth’s soil and can accumulate indoors to dangerous levels. Simple, inexpensive do-it-yourself radon test kits are available. EPA recommends that houses with radon levels of 4 picocuries or more of radon should be fixed to prevent accumulation of the gas indoors. EPA is working with state and local partners to educate the public about the dangers of radon. To learn more about how to receive a discounted radon home test kit or for more information about radon, and how to contact your state radon office, go to: https://www.epa.gov/radon , or call 1-800-SOS-Radon.
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