Health Risks of Radon

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers - killing over 21,000 Americans each year.  Radon is only linked to specific cancers, not to any other disease.

If you get radon-induced lung cancer, your chance of surviving is very low compared to other forms of cancer.

  • Your chance of surviving breast cancer is 88%

  • Your chance of surviving prostate cancer is 99%

  • Your chance of surviving lung cancer is 15%

Your chance of dying from lung cancer depends on the radon level you are exposed to over your lifetime.  

Radon Level

Non-Smokers

Risk of Dying From Lung Cancer

Smokers

Risk of Dying From Lung Cancer

 What to Do to  Protect Yourself

20 pCi/L

36 per 1000

260 per 1000

 

Have a radon mitigation system installed in your home.  Most homes can be mitigated for $800-1500.

 

10 pCi/L

18 per 100

150 per 1000

8 pCi/L  

15 per 1000

120 per 1000

4 pCi/L

7 per 1000

62 per 1000

2 pCi/L

4 per 1000

32 per 1000

Consider mitigating homes with levels between 2-4 pCi/L

1.3 pCi/L

U.S. indoor average

2 per 1000

20 per 1000

 

Reducing radon levels below these levels can be difficult

0.4 pCi/L

U.S. outdoor average

< 1 per 1000

6 per 1000

 

 

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