Raising Awareness of Radon Exposure Risks

The goal of this Collaboratory-funded project is to increase the number of policymakers who are aware of the risk of radon exposure in North Carolina.

By volunteering to take part in this project, you will be able to request a free short-term (3-7 days) radon test kit provided by Air Chek for use in your residence. After requesting your free kit, you will receive instructions and the test kit via mail. Used test kits can be mailed to the company free of charge, and you will receive your test results via your preferred delivery route from Air Chek.

At the end of this project, after all test kits have been distributed, the Collaboratory will share a final report of radon test results with the NC General Assembly (no personal information of project participants will be shared – all information will be anonymized).

Are you at risk of radon exposure?

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Each year, an estimated 21,000 people nationally and 450 North Carolinians die from radon-induced lung cancer.1, 2

Data provided by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 77 out of 100 counties in North Carolina have radon indoor air levels higher than the action level of 4 pCi/L.2

As per the National Radon Action Plan (2021-2025),3 radon is a radioactive, odorless, invisible gas that is found in soil and rocks. The gas seeps undetected into cracks and gaps in buildings, where it can exist in high concentrations and pose a threat to human health due to the amount of time that people spend indoors.

Testing for radon is the only way to know how much is present in a building and assess your level of exposure. When dangerous levels of radon are found indoors, solutions can be quite straightforward, such as qualified professionals installing a system that prevents high levels of radon from accumulating inside the building. New buildings can also be designed and built using radon-resistant construction techniques.

Read more about radon:

• US Environmental Protection Agency’s radon website
• North Carolina Radon Program, Department of Health and Human Services

References

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes. EPA402-R-03-003. Washington, D.C.: USEPA.
2. North Carolina Radon Program
3. The National Radon Action Plan – A Strategy for Saving Lives