Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms in rocks, soil, and water. We cannot see, taste, or smell radon, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the entire state of Iowa is considered high risk for radon gas in homes, and they have found the average indoor radon concentration in Iowa is more than six times the national average.
Testing your home is the only way to know if the radon level is high. To order low-cost kits and find answers to your radon questions, call the Iowa Radon Hotline at 1-800-383-5992 or go to
www.lung.org/radon.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov/cancer/lung/
Environmental Protection Agency, epa.gov/radon
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, hhs.iowa.gov/