Naturally Occurring Gas Causes Lung Cancer
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is more prevalent in some areas of the country than in others.
It’s present in the soil and is more common in West Virginia than other places due to the unique geology here. The danger with radon is that it can seep into homes and become trapped. and that’s where things get risky.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It kills more people each year than AIDS, drunk driving, drowning, or forest fires.
Is Radon In Your Home?
So how do you know if your home has radon? Testing kits are available at most hardware stores, and you should test your home regularly — especially rooms that you spend most of your time in, such as a bedroom or office.
If you find high levels of radon in your home, you can install a radon mitigation kit yourself if you’re handy. You can also higher a company to to install it.
When you are buying a home, it’s especially important to know what the radon levels are in it.
You can have the home tested during the inspection period, which is recommended since new changes in real estate laws mean that sellers do not have to disclose the presence of radon in their homes.
To do a test, you need to hire a radon inspector, since the test kits sold in hardware stores take longer to complete than you are able to spend in a home you’re considering purchasing. (Radon inspectors can run tests that produce faster results.)
If you are building a home, you can build your home with radon-resistant features to prevent this gas from ever becoming a problem.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an entire homebuyer’s guide to radon on their website with more detailed information.
Prim Law Firm PLLC represents clients in cases involving lung cancer in West Virginia, and our clients owe no fees unless we are successful in recovering compensation on their behalf.
