MWIAQA Radon Testing
YOU NEED TO TEST FOR RADON!
Iowa has the highest concentration of Radon gas in the United States.
What can I say about Radon? It is a colorless, odorless gas. The only way to know if your home has it is to test for it. Radon is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S among never smokers. Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
Our EPA certified radon test for homes in Iowa is the first step to identify your risk associated with radon gas.
Radon gas is a natural process that comes from the earth, caused by the decay of uranium. It is present in all types of soils. Different parts of the U.S. have higher average radon gas readings than others. (Iowa is #1 in the U.S.) No matter where you live, the only way to know your radon risk is by having an EPA certified radon test performed.
The test is not expensive and should be done on a regular basis. Our suggestion to all our clients is to surf the web and do some research about radon. Our goal is not to scare you, but to make you aware that there is a real potential for the presence of radon gas in your home.
The good news about the presence of radon in your home is that it easily can be fixed. Midwest Indoor Air Quality does not perform radon remediation, nor are we affiliated with remediation companies. We are an independent testing service. See our resource page for a list of licensed remediation companies.
Midwest Indoor Air Quality is certified and licensed by the state of Iowa to test radon gas levels and we are a member of AARST (American Association of Radon Scientist and Technologists). This non-invasive test takes a minimum of 48 hours to complete.
Not enough?
The United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO) says that radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Dr. Maria Neira of WHO said that "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose exposures in people's homes. Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries."
The WHO recommendations are in the "Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective"
Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer In Non-smokers and Smokers Alike
The Facts...
Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented.
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* cancer deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004). And the rate among women is rising. On January 11, 1964, Dr. Luther L. Terry, then U.S. Surgeon General, issued the first warning on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon. Read a study by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women at www.cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html
Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious consequences for children’s health, including asthma attacks, affecting the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), and may cause ear infections.
Please test your home for radon! Even if you don’t call us, call somebody!