By Andy Goodner, M.D.
Mayo Clinic Health System Family Medicine, WinnMed, Decorah
January is National Radon Awareness Month, a time to highlight a serious but often overlooked health risk affecting homes across Iowa and the Midwest.
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that forms naturally in the ground and can enter homes through small cracks and openings in foundations. As radon breaks down, it releases radioactive particles that are harmful to human health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the entire state of Iowa is considered a high-risk area for elevated radon levels.
Health experts warn that radon exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked and is the second leading cause among smokers. Lung cancer linked to radon can develop within 5 to 15 years after exposure and often affects people at younger ages than traditional smoking-related lung cancers. Beyond cancer, studies have linked radon exposure to infertility, dementia, strokes, and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and hypertension.
Nationwide, radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year — more than deaths caused by drunk driving, drowning, home accidents, or house fires. Despite this risk, far fewer households test for radon compared to those that install smoke detectors.
The EPA recommends taking action if radon levels reach 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), though mitigation should be considered at levels as low as 2.0 pCi/L. About one in 15 homes in the United States exceeds the EPA action level. To put the risk in perspective, living in a home with radon levels of 4.0 pCi/L carries a cancer risk equivalent to smoking eight cigarettes a day or receiving 200 chest X-rays per year. At 20 pCi/L — a level not uncommon in unmitigated homes — the risk is comparable to smoking 40 cigarettes a day.
The EPA advises homeowners to test their homes for radon at least every two years. Testing kits are inexpensive and widely available at local hardware stores, online retailers, and through Iowa’s Radon Hotline at 1-800-383-5992 or at www.lung.org/radon. While professional mitigation systems typically cost between $1,000 and $2,000, the expense is modest compared to the cost of cancer treatment and may be covered under some health flexible spending plans.
During National Radon Awareness Month, residents are encouraged to test their homes and take action if elevated levels are found — a simple step that can help protect families from a serious and preventable health risk.
