Lung cancer is often associated with smokers, however, 10% to 20% of lung cancers occur in people who have never smoked or had fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. The culprit is often radon, an odorless, colorless radioactive gas found in soil, rock and sometimes water.

Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Approximately 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.

Dr. Avani Mehta, a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician at Advocate Health Care, explains how radon can cause lung cancer. “Radon breaks down into tiny radioactive elements called radon progeny. It can enter your body as you breathe. They may get into your lungs where they can give off radiation. This damages lung cells and may eventually lead to lung cancer.”

People who work underground, such as miners, are the most likely to be exposed to radon. However, for those not in an underground workplace, the biggest risk of radon exposure is at home.

A radon test is often done during the inspection process when you are buying a house. A testing kit can be used if you don’t know the radon level in your home.

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