04/03/2023

Radon Exposure Increases Lung Cancer Risk

Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Drunk Driving causes 17,400 deaths per year. Falls in the Home cause 8,000 deaths per year. Drownings cause 3,900 deaths per year. Home Fires cause 2,800 deaths per year. www.epa.gov/radon.
Image courtesy of EPA.gov

Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that is a decay product of elements in soil and rock and is present in every part of the country. Low levels of radon are found in the outside air. Radon gas can move through the soil and enter buildings through small openings in the foundation or basement and become concentrated in the indoor air environment. When radon is inhaled, it can damage DNA in lung tissue and increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates.

York County is among several counties in South Carolina with elevated levels of radon gas according to studies conducted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The only way to know if you have radon gas exposure is to test your home.

Test. Fix. Save A Life.

Radon testing is FREE for residents and may help save a life!

Rock Hill Housing Authority was awarded funding through the HUD Radon Testing and Mitigation Demonstration Grant Program to perform testing and property fixes to mitigate the radon exposure in our housing units.

For more information on the Rock Hill Housing Authority's Radon Testing and Mitigation Program, please click here to view Radon Grant and Plans.