The risk of lung cancer is increased even more for a smoker exposed to radon gas. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can leak into homes and other buildings through cracks or holes in the foundation. The greater the number of pico Curies per liter of radon in a building, the greater the exposure to radiation. Congress has set a long-term goal to keep indoor radon levels at or below the outdoor levels. The Vermont Health Department maintains a database with radon levels for nearly 12,000 homes and other buildings in the state.
Any radon exposure carries some risk.
No level of radon is safe, but Vermonters can reduce their risk of lung cancer by lowering their exposure to radon.