The report reaffirms the American Lung Association's position that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The report also reaffirms that exposure to radon, in combination with cigarette smoking, significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, for smokers, exposure to radon is a very serious health risk.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas found in the earth's rock and soil.
It is formed by the natural breakdown of radium, which is itself a decay product of uranium. Both uranium and radium are common elements in the soil. Residential radon is a serious environmental risk because millions of people are exposed to high levels. These deaths are preventable. The only way to determine if there is a radon problem in homes is by measuring the radon level.