INDOOR RADON HEALTH RISKS

Course overview

More than 30 years have passed since radon was recognized as a threat to the health of Americans, and more than 20 years since researchers identified the need to focus educational efforts beyond informational campaigns. This colorless, odorless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers and the leading cause in nonsmokers, yet testing of homes and businesses for this toxic gas remains a low priority for the American public despite EPA recommendations that every home should be tested. Public education programs have not served to change the perception that testing and mitigation costs outweigh the risks. This activity will familiarize nurses and health educators with health issues associated with indoor environmental radon and spur them to actively convey that risk to their patients.