Radon Awareness Week begins today, and will focus on the risks of radon and the devastating effects it has on those who are victim to it, according to recent news sources.
According the the website, radonweek.org, “Radon is naturally occurring, odorless and colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Because radon is a gas, it can enter buildings through openings or cracks in the foundation. The radon gas itself decays into radioactive solids, called radon daughters. The radon daughters attach to dust particles in the air, and can be inhaled. The inhalation of radon daughters has been linked to lung cancer.”
The Awareness Week is sponsored by nine federal agencies who want to raise awareness and also make radon testing a requirement of real estate transactions. The groups also want to regularly test schools, daycares, and workplaces.
As a Los Angeles Personal Injury lawyer, I’m glad to see that this issue is being pursued. Radon causes 22,000 lung cancer deaths a year, and that is far too many. In my line of work as a product liability lawyer, I’ve seen that simple prevention can often help a family avoid tragedy. I recommend testing your home for radon regularly if you have not already done so.
