Test for Radon to Limit Cancer Risk

       Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon exposure is the second. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that increases the potential for lung cancer. Radon has been found at elevated levels in homes across the country.   

       Test your home for radon. The testing device, normally a charcoal canister kit, is set in the lowest habitable space (usually the basement during the heating season when the house is kept closed) for a few days and then sent in for analysis. If the reading exceeds the recommended level of four picocuries per liter of air, further testing will be needed to determine if there is sufficient radon in the living space to require action to reduce the level. Test kits are available from some hardware stores, your local public health district or the American Lung Association.