Radon is an Invisible, Serious Health Threat

Radon is a naturally occurring, cancer-causing, radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and finds its way into homes through cracks and holes in the foundation, construction joints, and plumbing fixtures. Any home can have a radon problem. The only way to determine if your home is trapping radon gas is to test.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., after smoking. The EPA estimates that radon exposure causes more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. In South Carolina, lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and the most common cause of cancer deaths. Smokers who are exposed to elevated levels of radon have an increased risk of lung cancer, according to EPA studies.

Through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Radon Testing and Mitigation Demonstration Grant Program, Rock Hill Housing Authority is working to test 337 ground-floor units for the presence of elevated radon levels and perform mitigation efforts where indicated.

For more information on the serious health risks of radon exposure, visit:

scdhec.gov/environment/your-home/radon#LungCancer 

www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon