radon gas

Help me inform the citizens of the deadly effects of radon gas. Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and for persons who have ever smoked, the chances are much greater of developing lung cancer if exposed to high levels of radon gas over a period of years.

The federal government knows about this worldwide threat, but very few of our citizens know anything about radon gas or its harmful effects. Testing for radon gas is very easy. Buying a test kit at the local hardware store and conducting a two- or three-day test can determine is a home has high radon gas. If it is 4.0 picocuries per liter of air or higher, it needs to be mitigated according to the surgeon general. Mitigation is not complicated and can be accomplished in a few hours.

I had no idea what radon as was and certainly didn't think it was in my house. On Feb. 8, 2006, my husband, Joe, died of lung cancer. Joe's cancer doctor has told us that smoking and radon gas causes lung cancer. Joe hadn't smoked in 27 years. On March 8, I saw that Dana Reeves, a non-smoker, had died of lung cancer. Again radon gas was mentioned as a cause of lung cancer. I tested my house, and found high levels of 11.2 and 17.6 picocuries per liter. Needless to say, I had it mitigated.

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. My purpose is to prevent other deaths due to radon by having every house tested for this killer. We can save thousands of lives.