Health Effects

How Can Radon Be Harmful and Dangerous?

Radon gas decays into radioactive particles (known as “progeny”) that adhere to dust particles and get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, the progeny release small bursts of energy which can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second overall leading cause of lung cancer, according to EPA estimates.  Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year; about 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. Radon does not present any short-term symptoms (such as coughing or headaches) and often goes undetected.