Many Maryland residents are concerned about elevated levels of radon in their community. They are testing their homes for this potentially harmful gas. Radon is a radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell, or taste it.
Radon occurs naturally in all soils.
In outdoor air, radon gas is diluted to low levels. When radon gas seeps into homes, it can build up to potentially dangerous levels. Scientists estimate that 7,000 to 14,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States may be caused by radon gas. This would make radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon is one part of a long chain of radioactive decay.