County Of Lenoir Health Department issued the following announcement on Jan. 16.
Gov. Roy Cooper proclaimed January as National Radon Action Month to help educate people on how to reduce their risk of radon lung cancer. Because testing is the only way to know if your family is at risk, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is providing 3,000 free radon testing kits available now through the site web : radon. Nice. gov
Radon is a gas with no smell or color and is currently the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. It releases from the earth outdoors, but it can accumulate and reach harmful levels when trapped in homes and other buildings. Also, the risk factor for lung cancer among current or former smokers increases 10 times if they live in a home with high radon.
Information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 77 of the 100 North Carolina counties have levels of radon in indoor air that are above safety standards. A level four or higher in your home is considered unsafe.
Approximately 450 people die each year in North Carolina from radon-induced lung cancer. Despite the large number of deaths annually, many people are unaware that they need radon testing done in their homes.
Survey data collected through the 2015 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Monitoring System reflect a lack of knowledge about radon among historically marginalized communities, particularly among communities black and Hispanic data, low income people and people who rent their homes.
The governor’s proclamation also acknowledges that elevated internal radon is a preventable and solvable problem, similar in cost to other home improvements. The North Carolina Radon Program recommends hiring a certified radon mitigator to correct elevated levels of radon.
We are all exposed to some level of radon. The question isn’t if you’re exposed to radon, but how high is your exposure level? Radon testing is the only way to find out. Visit the website : radon. Nice. gov for more information and to claim your free trial kit while supplies last. For information on radon mitigation, please visit the NCDHHS Radon Mitigation website.
Original source can be found here.
