Des Moines, Iowa – Studies find five out of every seven Iowa homes have elevated radon levels and state health officials are urging residents to have their houses checked for the odorless, colorless radioactive gas. Mindy Uhle, executive officer of the Iowa Department of Public Health, says radon causes no immediate health symptoms, but long-term exposure may cause lung cancer.
While radon levels are varied, every one of Iowa’s 99 counties is considered at high risk for elevated levels.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Easy-to-use test kits can reveal the amount of radon in any building.
Buildings with high radon levels can usually be fixed, she says, with simple and affordable venting techniques. While five out of seven homes in Iowa have elevated radon levels, an E-P-A study finds the national number is only one in 15 homes. To learn more, click here.