Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas formed from the natural breakdown of subsurface uranium. In outdoor air, radon is diluted to very low concentrations and isn't threatening. When it is released into highly concentrated areas, such as homes, it can accumulate and threaten the people who live there, says Dr. Jesse LaPrade, Extension environmental specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, just behind tobacco smoke.
The EPA estimates exposure to the gas is responsible for up to 30,000 lung-cancer cases each year in the United States. People who live in homes with high radon levels are at the greatest risk. These counties include Blount, Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Shelby and Talladega. Extension agents in these counties have been trained in and provided with literature about radon risks. They offer a wide array of awareness activities in schools and 4-H programs as well as seminars to realtors and homebuilders.