Guests: Susan Smedley Gerber, Event Manager, Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge; Jessica Maloney, Indoor Air & Radon Program Manager, Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services
January is National Radon Action Month. Why is this important? Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that is found in Wisconsin homes. Long-term exposure to radon is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Cigarette smoking remains the most common cause of lung cancer, but exposure to the combination of radon gas and cigarette smoke creates a greater risk of lung cancer than exposure to either factor alone. It is estimated that more than 10 percent of radon-related cancer deaths occur among nonsmokers. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
On this program, Susan Smedley Gerber and Jessica Maloney describe the higher risk of radon exposure in Wisconsin and the importance of having a simple home test to determine if high radon levels are present. If high levels are confirmed, mitigation by a certified radon contractor is recommended.
For more information including testing and mitigation, go to www.lowradon.org. To participate in the Free to Breathe Madison Yoga Challenge, go to www.freetobreathe.org/madison. The event is Saturday, June 16, at Lake farm Park.
