Radon is the number-one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of cancer among smokers. It's becoming such an issue, that lung cancer is now surpassing breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women.
The tricky part is that radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Most people won't test for a toxin if there is not an immediately recognizable threat.
Recent reports cited granite counter tops as a culprit. While there is some validity to this, it's often not the main problem. Radon is a gas; a byproduct of the decomposition of uranium (which is found naturally in the soil). It creeps up through the cracks in the lowest levels of homes and other structures.
How can you protect yourself and your family members?
Test your home. Some helpful resources include the website sosradon.org, as well as the American Lung Association. Tests are affordable and you can do them yourself.
Certified Green Building Professional, Lisa Beres, joins host Andrea Donsky to explain the dangers of radon, as well as simple yet effective ways to test your home.
Lisa and Ron Beres are Certified Green Building Professionals, Building Biologists and published authors of several books including Just GREEN It! and the children's book, My Body My House. In addition to testing the health of homes, their consulting business includes celebrities and Fortune 500's. They are award winning television media experts and have appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, The Suzanne Show, The Doctors, Fox & Friends, The Today Show with Matt Lauer, NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams, Discovery’s Greenovate and Chelsea Lately on E!