January has been designated as Radon Action Month by the Environmental Protection Agency.
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Radon is an odorless, tasteless gas that causes no immediate health symptoms, but prolonged exposure can lead to lung cancer.
""It's the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Smoking is the only one that causes more deaths...there is a website you can go to see the dangers of Radon. Radon is uranium that's broken down. When it comes into your house, it can come through the cracks in your foundation, it can come through the windows. It can come through any opening in your house it can come through," said Deputy Fire Chief Tony Miller of the Ottumwa Fire Department.
According the Environmental Protection Agency, one in every 15 homes contains high levels of Radon. But there are ways to protect yourself from this slow killer. It is recommended that you have your home tested by a professional or acquire the device to do it yourself.
"They have a short test and they have a long-term test. The short-term test is anywhere from two days to 89 days, it will test what your Radon is. A long-term test would be 90 days or more," said Deputy Chief Miller.
He added that it is important to seasonally change batteries on other emergency detectors such as Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors.
The EPA recommends other types of Radon-reduction methods including house and room pressurization, the use of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), as well as sealing open spaces and cracks that you know of.
And if you are constructing a new home, build with new Radon-resistant practices.
More information about Radon Action Month can be found through the EPA.
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