Radon, a radioactive gas released from the natural decay of the elements Uranium, Thorium and Radium present in soil and rocks, usually exists in low levels outdoors. The invisible, odorless and tasteless gas seeps up through the ground and into the air.1 Because Radon is naturally present outside, we all breathe it in daily, albeit typically in low levels. However, when inhaled in higher levels, the substance puts an individual at increased risk of developing lung cancer. In fact, research from the American Lung Association asserts Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Exposure causes no immediate symptoms, however the long-term threat of the disease is significant to everyone. Notably, people who have never smoked comprise approximately 2,900 of the 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths each year.2
As the National Cancer Institute points out, Radon can accumulate in areas with direct proximity to soil and in places without adequate ventilation, including in underground and ground floor spaces. In these locations, Radon may accumulate in higher levels, substantially increasing the risk of lung cancer.3 Because of their direct proximity to the ground soil, it is possible for basements as well as the ground level of commercial and institutional facilities to become such dangerous spaces.