Radon Gas and Lung Cancer Prevention at Home

When people think about lung cancer risk, tobacco smoke is usually the first factor that comes to mind. However, many people are surprised to learn that an invisible, odorless gas found naturally in the earth is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

That gas is radon. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), radon exposure causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. Fortunately, testing for radon and fixing high levels in your home is simple, effective, and low-cost.

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Representative Story Disclosure
This is a representative story created from common experiences described by patients and caregivers. It is not the story of one identifiable person, and individual experiences can differ substantially.

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Robert and Susan, a couple in their early 50s, bought a suburban home in Ohio where they lived for 18 years. Neither had ever smoked, so lung cancer was not on their radar.

During a routine home inspection when preparing to sell their house, the buyer requested a standard radon test. The test revealed a radon level of 9.4 pCi/L — more than double the EPA's recommended action threshold of 4.0 pCi/L.

Surprised by the result, Susan researched radon and learned that breathing high radon levels over many years damages the delicate cellular lining of the lungs. The couple immediately hired a certified radon contractor to install a active soil depressurization system. Within 24 hours of installation, radon levels dropped to 0.9 pCi/L.

Susan reflected:
"We had no idea our home was accumulating invisible radon for 18 years. Getting a mitigation system installed was a relief, for us and for the new buyers."

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Radon is produced by the natural decay of uranium found in rocks, soil, and groundwater. Because radon is a gas, it easily moves up through soil into the air above.

Soil & Bedrock (Natural Uranium Decay)
        ↓
Radon Gas Rises Through Soil
        ↓
Enters Home Through Foundation Cracks, Sump Pumps & Joints
        ↓
Trapped in Enclosed Air → Inhaled into Lungs Over Time

Radon can enter any home — regardless of whether it is old or new, insulated or drafty, with a basement or on a slab foundation.

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Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air:

• Below 2.0 pCi/L: Low risk. Normal background levels average around 1.3 pCi/L indoors.
• 2.0 to 3.9 pCi/L: Moderate level. Consider fixing your home, as any radon exposure carries some long-term risk.
• 4.0 pCi/L or Higher: EPA Action Level. Fixing your home (mitigation) is strongly recommended to lower lung cancer risk.

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1. Purchase a DIY Test Kit: Short-term test kits are inexpensive and are available at hardware stores, online retailers, or through state radon programs.
2. Place the Detector: Hang or place the detector in the lowest lived-in level of your home (such as a basement or ground-floor bedroom), away from drafts, doors, or windows.
3. Mail to Laboratory: EPA says short-term tests stay in the home for 2 to 90 days depending on the device — charcoal canister kits are usually left out for 2 to 7 days. Follow the instructions that come with your kit, then seal it and mail it to the designated laboratory.

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Combining radon gas exposure with tobacco smoking dramatically multiplies your lung cancer risk.

EPA's lifetime risk tables put it like this. Of 1,000 people who never smoked and are exposed to 4.0 pCi/L over a lifetime, about 7 could get lung cancer. Of 1,000 people who smoke and are exposed to the same 4.0 pCi/L level, about 62 could get lung cancer — roughly nine times as many, because radioactive particles and tobacco carcinogens act together.

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• Radon is invisible: You cannot see, smell, or taste radon gas.
• Leading non-smoker risk: Radon causes ~21,000 U.S. lung cancer deaths annually.
• Testing is easy & low-cost: EPA says short-term kits stay in place 2 to 90 days depending on the device, and charcoal canisters just 2 to 7 days.
• Fix high levels: Homes measuring 4.0 pCi/L or higher should be mitigated by certified contractors.

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Does a neighbor's low radon result mean my house is safe?

No. Radon levels vary significantly from house to house depending on local soil geology, foundation cracks, and ventilation. Every home should be tested individually.

How does radon mitigation work?

A certified contractor installs a vent pipe system with an inline fan that continuously pulls radon gas from beneath your foundation and vents it harmlessly above the roofline.

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• Lung Cancer Risk Factors
• Air Pollution & Cancer Risk
• Carcinogens Overview
• Cancer Prevention Overview

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• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Health Risk of Radon. https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): What is EPA's Action Level for Radon and What Does it Mean? https://www.epa.gov/radon/what-epas-action-level-radon-and-what-does-it-mean
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): RadTown Radon Activity 3: Indoor Radon Levels (test durations). https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radtown-radon-activity-3-indoor-radon-levels
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Radon and Cancer Risk (2025). https://www.cdc.gov/radon
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): Radon and Cancer Fact Sheet (2025). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/radon