Stealthy Cancer Catalyst Discovered in Most American Residences

Buzzline

Researchers have recently uncovered a quiet cancer catalyst lurking in plain view within the majority of American households, often unbeknownst to families. A recent study by the American Cancer Society and EPA has connected prolonged exposure to indoor radon with a significant increase in lung cancer rates among non-smokers. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that rises from the earth and infiltrates basements and ground-level areas. The CDC estimates that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer fatalities annually in the US, making it the second leading cause after smoking. Here’s how to check your home for under $30.

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00:00Scientists have just identified a silent cancer trigger hiding in plain sight inside most

00:05American homes, and most families have no idea it's there.

00:09A new analysis from the American Cancer Society and Environmental Protection Agency has linked

00:15sustained indoor radon exposure to a sharp rise in lung cancer cases among non-smokers.

00:22Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground into basements,

00:28crawl spaces, and ground floor rooms. The CDC now estimates that radon causes around 21,000 lung

00:36cancer deaths in the United States every single year, making it the second leading cause of lung

00:41cancer behind smoking. Worst affected states include Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, and Minnesota,

00:50where natural geology pushes radon levels much higher. A radon test kit costs less than $30 at

00:57most U.S. hardware stores. If levels are above 4 picocuries per liter, the EPA recommends a

01:03mitigation system, which typically costs $800 to $1,500. It's invisible. It's odorless.

01:11And right now, it could be inside your home.

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