You can't see it, or smell it, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon gas, the leading cause of lung cancer for non smokers, could be building up to unsafe levels in your home.

The agency wants people to take part in National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for the gas.

Radon is a natural, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. Outside the gas dissipates, but in confined spaces, it can build up to harmful levels. According to the EPA, one in fifteen homes nationwide has elevated levels of the gas, and approximately 21,000 people die from radon related lung cancer each year in the United States.

A self-test kit can be purchased online or at home retail stores for less than $15, that includes a lab analysis at no additional charge. Greg Ballard, a manager at Lowe's in Rogers, says the kit is simple to use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies have joined forces to reduce exposure to radon, one of the leading causes of lung cancer. According to the environmental agency, radon exposure causes some 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year and is the second leading cause of the disease in the United States.

Through the Federal Radon Action Plan, agencies will demonstrate the importance of radon risk reduction, address finance and incentive issues regarding testing and mitigation, and build demand for services from industry professionals. According to EPA, “the plan will help spur greater action in the marketplace, create jobs in the private sector, and significantly reduce exposure to radon.”

Specific steps described in the plan include:

• Incorporating radon testing and mitigation into federal programs,
• Launching an outreach initiative to educate families about the risks,

Watch a news segment.

MARQUETTE, Michigan -- Marquette County is a known hot spot for radon, and a new federal program may help residents keep themselves safe from the deadly gas.

The federal Radon Action Plan is an agency cooperation between federal entities such as the EPA, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Defense. The collaboration will emphasize the importance of testing for radon, provide policy and incentive to encourage those with the means to test and mitigate, and build demand for professional services.

Here in the U.P., that could mean federal funding to test homes and protect residents.

"The significance of this new program is that for the first time, multiple federal agencies have come together to attack radon collectively," said Marquette County Health Officer Fred Benzie.

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Veterans Affairs have joined forces to help save lives and create healthier home and school environments for America’s families. The plan brings together commitments that help to reduce exposure to radon and protect the health of Americans through leveraging and advancing existing state, local, and national programs. Radon exposure is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer and leads to an estimated 21,000 deaths each year.

FRIDAY, March 11 (HealthDay News) -- It may be hard to think of radiation as a present and serious environmental health concern in the United States, much less one with the potential to affect nearly every home in the country.

But a radioactive gas known as radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

"It's the second leading cause of lung cancer, and, for non-smokers, it is the leading cause of lung cancer," said Kristy Miller, a spokeswoman for the indoor environments division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "It is invisible and odorless. It causes no symptoms. You possibly may be breathing in high levels and not even know it."

Radon gas is created by the breakdown of uranium in rocks, soil and water. It seeps up through the ground and into homes through foundation cracks and crawl spaces.

One in 15 U.S. homes contains high levels of a gas that is thought to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer — after smoking — and causes more than 21,000 deaths a year.

The colorless, odorless killer is called radon, and it is the product of the breakdown of uranium in soil. The gas can seep upward into cracks and holes in the foundations of buildings, where it can accumulate. Radon also can sneak into a home through well water, and, in a small percentage of buildings, the building materials themselves can contain radon.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon accumulated inside a building reaches a dangerous quantity when it is measured at 4 picocuries per liter and the building’s inhabitants are exposed to the gas for years.

The risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure is much higher for smokers.

COLUMBIA, Mo. The Environmental Protection Agency and state officials are hosting a conference on radon this week in Columbia.

The one-day conference is scheduled for Wednesday and will include representatives from the regional EPA and health officials from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. The agencies have been working to create a risk reduction plan for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas.

The EPA said in a release that one in 15 U.S. homes has high levels of radon, but the hazard can be avoided by taking steps, such as having a home tested regularly.

To view this article, visit http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mo-radonconference,0,6833180.story.

Release date: 03/03/2011
Contact Information: EPA Press Office press@epa.gov 202-564-6794
As prepared for delivery.

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me to testify about President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Janet McCabe, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA, talks about her personal radon experience.

Watch the video.

Read the full transcript.

Radon exposure is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer

WASHINGTON – January is National Radon Action Month and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and eight other federal agencies are announcing a new effort to strengthen the fight against radon exposure. Radon exposure is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer. Senior leaders from the federal agencies are pledging to work together to create a national risk reduction plan for radon that will help save lives and create safer, healthier homes for all Americans.

“Radon is a serious public health threat that leads to more than 21,000 deaths each year,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This new federal partnership will help Americans reduce their risk of radon exposure.”