The Midwest Radon Challenge
One of the best things about Midwesterners is that we are a very “Show me, don’t just tell me” kind of people. We have proudly served the Kansas City Metro for over a decade and hustled every day to bring awareness to the issue of radon in the home. Unfortunately, many times the only time radon is brought to the public’s attention is in the purchase of a home. With all the other moving parts of a home purchase, it can get lost in the shuffle. That window of opportunity is a challenge. On top of that reality, we still run into some public perceptions that radon is “made-up” or not that big of a deal. This drives us to continually educate homeowners every chance we get about the research behind radon and cancer.
We get it: radon has no taste, no smell, no sound, and no obvious symptoms. This creates a unique challenge for reaching Midwesterners with the truth. It’s not immediately apparent to homeowners that there is an issue.
The only way to know if you have dangerous radon levels is to test.
Radon and Cancer – Education Matters
We test hundreds of homes a week and give detailed, direct reports to homeowners to inform them of exactly where their house stands in regards to radon exposure. We have a supreme value for transparency, and we strive to make the findings abundantly clear.
Even after that point, we still have work to do in the realm of education. We still have to demonstrate why it is imperative to mitigate radon from the home in a timely manner and on a continuous basis.
We strive to ensure that people are aware of the facts because, at the end of the day, we are dealing ultimately with that word that has impacted so many lives: cancer. We want to prevent Lung Cancer at all costs, and to do so we have to encourage people to take action. With all of the information that exists, one of the top questions regarding radon continues to be, “Does radon really cause cancer?”
Let’s hear from Cancer.gov:
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Radon represents a far smaller risk for this disease, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Scientists estimate that 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year are related to radon.
The scientific consensus regarding the risk of radon and cancer is pretty clear. It is harmful and cancer-causing, and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
The next logical question becomes…
“How does Radon cause cancer?”
Radon decays in a fairly quick manner, and that decay process gives off tiny radioactive particles. Through inhalation, those tiny particles find their way into the lungs and damage the cells found in the lining of the lung. If exposed over a longer period of time, that continual exposure can lead to the development of cancer in the lungs. Unlike smoke, you can’t see what you’re breathing in. As stated before, the only way to know if you’re breathing in dangerously concentrated levels of radon is to test.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month which serves as a reminder every year that we still have work to do. This is what keeps us going every day, the knowledge that we can prevent the potential of lung cancer in thousands of homes in our beloved hometown. It’s deeper than a business, it’s a mission. A mission we are proud to work on every day.
If you’ve got questions, you can give us a call 816.587.3500 or Schedule a test today. We look forward to bringing peace of mind to your home sometime soon. We’re here to ensure you can “breathe easy” for good.
