Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. The Risk of Living With Radon Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer, and the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.
Smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk.
Stop smoking and lower your radon level to reduce your lung cancer risk. If You Have Radon. You can't see radon, but it's not hard to test if you have a radon problem in your home. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes. Make sure you buy a test kit that has passed EPA's testing program or is state-certified.