- What you should know:
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking.
- New vlog shows importance of radon testing, how to test, what to do if levels are high.
- Radon can build up in any home, and the only way to know if levels are high is to test
|
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is releasing a new vlog highlighting simple steps people can take to test for radon during National Radon Action Month this January.
Oregon resident Eaen Goss, who is an OHA public health educator recently tested for radon and shared their experience through the vlog.
“I first learned about radon last year. When I saw how it can harm our health, and how easy it is to test for it, it felt important to see what the radon levels in my home looked like,” said Goss. “I got a short-term test from my local hardware store and set it up within five minutes. Testing for radon was simple. It’s a small amount of effort that can make a huge difference in our long-term health.”
The video further outlines why radon testing matters, how to test a home and what to do if test results show elevated levels. Watch the radon awareness vlog here.
The goal of National Radon Action Month is to raise awareness about radon, a naturally occurring, radioactive gas released from soil and rock. Thousands of years ago, the Missoula Floods deposited uranium-rich rocks and sediments from Montana into Portland's Willamette Valley, creating a geological foundation where naturally occurring uranium decays into radon gas, leading to higher-than-average levels in the region, particularly in areas such as Alameda Ridge.
This makes radon testing crucial for homes in the Portland-metro area, as the gas can seep into buildings through cracks in foundations, crawl spaces and other openings. Radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless, so the only way to know if radon is present is to test.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking, and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels increases lung cancer risk for both smokers and non-smokers.
“Radon can build up in any home - old or new - and the only way to know if levels are high is to test,” said Jara Popinga, coordinator of OHA’s Radon Awareness Program. “Winter months are the ideal time to test, because homes are sealed against cold weather and radon levels can be at their highest.”
Take action against radon this month
OHA’s Radon Awareness Program provides free test short-term radon test kits to those living in areas of Oregon where little radon testing has been done. Test kits are available to those that qualify and while supplies last. The American Lung Association also has test kits that are easy to order.
|