General Information and Health Effects
Radon: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You. You can’t see radon, can’t smell it or taste it. You may never have even heard of it. But Radon may be a problem in your home that could harm your family.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that can be found all over the United States. Radon comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air we breathe. Radon tends to accumulate in enclosed structures, so it is particularly a problem in homes. Radon is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year. Breathing air that contains radon can cause lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
How to Reduce Your Chances of Getting Lung Cancer from Radon
- Test your home for radon and reduce high levels
- Be aware that if you smoke and your home has high radon levels, the risk of lung cancer is especially high
In Indiana, close to 1 in 4 homes tested found elevated radon levels. On the map, the red counties are expected to have the highest average radon levels. The orange counties are expected to have medium average radon levels. No counties in Indiana are expected to be in the low zone. EPA Radon Map of Indiana
The La Porte County Health Department has radon test kits for $5.00 for La Porte County residents. To request a test kit, call (219) 326-6808 Ext. 2200 or (219) 874-5611 Ext. 7780