Radon is known for being the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, but did you know it can also impact the health of children in the United States? We’re here to help you understand the link between radon exposure and asthma in children.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that rises from the soil when uranium in the ground decays. Utah has a lot of uranium, which means it has a lot of radon. Radon isn’t very dangerous when it’s dispersed in outdoor air, but it can have major health consequences when it concentrates indoors and is breathed in over a prolonged period of time.
The radon and asthma connection
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood in the United States and impacts more than 4 million minors annually. Children are often impacted by radon in unique ways because they have a higher respiratory rate, and researchers are now looking into the connection between radon and asthma.
Recent data from the journal Pediatrics showed asthmatic kids exposed to radon had more asthma flare-ups. This data may prove that radon is an environmental risk factor for asthma, which had previously been suspected, but not proven.
In addition to high respiratory rates, kids often have bedrooms on the lowest level of the home, which is where radon concentrations are highest. It’s important to test your home for radon every two years to catch if radon before it reaches dangerously high levels.
All Utah homes are eligible for a free radon test from UtahRadon.org. Simply fill out the form on this page and we will mail a test directly to your house. You have nothing to lose, and a long life to gain, by proactively testing your home for radon.
