The Indiana State Department of Health is warning residents about the dangers of radon, an odorless, tasteless, colorless, but radioactive gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared January National Radon Action Month.
State health officials say the gas is made by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can then get in your home through cracks or gaps in the exterior, and build up in air and drinking water, potentially causing cancer.
The EPA says nearly one out of every 15 homes nationwide has high levels of radon, and it causes around 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. You can protect yourself by getting a testing kit to check the radon levels in your home. If they’re high, you can have a licensed contractor install mitigation systems to eliminate the problem.
