Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that forms naturally in the soil and rocks surrounding a home. It is incredibly poisonous if ingested, but since it is virtually impossible for a homeowner to know it is in their home, radon gas poses an extreme risk.
In fact, there have been plenty of studies that look at the relationship between radon gas and illnesses. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office and the Environmental Protection Agency, radon gas exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This only increases the importance of investing in radon testing and inspection in your home at least once a season.
And now a new study shows that radon exposure increases the risk of malignant skin cancer.
New research by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has found that the impact of radon exposure and UV exposure go hand in hand. For their study, the researchers looked at 1,900 deaths from malignant melanoma in Switzerland between 2000 and 2008, and found that when the radon particles decay, they not only affect lung tissue but also affect the skin. The study was focused on people aged 20 and above, and they found that this correlation affects Millennials more than Baby Boomers.
The study found that for 30-year-olds, the skin cancer risk increases 50% per 100 Bq/m increase in radon exposure, when for 60-year-olds, it is much lower at 16%.
Martin Roosli, professor of environmental epidemiology at the Swiss TPH explains to Science Daily that this study serves as a good example for skin cancer trends as it was a “longitudinal analysis of the total population of Switzerland and that the effects of radon were modeled for every single household.”
Even though this study took place in Switzerland, it is still important for Americans as about one in 15 U.S. homes are estimated to have radon levels at or above the EPA action level. So with this in mind, it is more important than ever for Americans to invest in radon testing and inspection. Radon mitigation and abatement is an easy process and it can be completed by calling our professionals today!
Ensure your home is safe from radon at all times by calling our radon gas testing company, Affordable Radon Colorado today.
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