testing and mitigation if the level is high can be lifesaving. An easy and time saving method for this responsibility is an informative radon brochure and a question on the patient history form: “Have you tested your home for radon?” Physicians that have tested their homes and offices and mitigated if the level was elevated are great influencers and demonstrate a great health-promoting behavior.
During National Radon Action Month—January—many articles on radon appear in newspapers, and news segments on TV are fairly common throughout our nation. When the articles are close to home in local newspapers or in neighborhood publications, citizens are more likely to seek out testing devices from public health departments or other sources. However, in-person presentations have more of an impact especially if test kits are readily available at the presentation.
Legislative action such as the IL and MN Radon Awareness Act has been effective with increased results in the number of home buyers testing and mitigation at the point of sale. In Illinois testing at the point of sale has increased from 8% to 55% since the enactment of the IL Radon Awareness Act which came about as a result of the death of Joseph Linnertz who passed with lung cancer on February 8, 2006, while living in an environment with elevated levels of radon. The number of MN families taking action to reduce levels of cancer-causing radon gas in their homes has more than double since MN duplicated the IL law in 2014. The laws are a combination of notification and disclosure about the danger of radioactive radon gas in the home, and people are heeding the warning by testing when purchasing a home.
The last but certainly not an insignificant factor in the determination of individuals to test their home radon is when the diagnosis of lung cancer comes into their lives. When one is told, “you have lung cancer,” numbness occurs and disbelief is present as the thought, “How this could be?” enters the mind. After the initial shock of the diagnosis, the patient seeks treatment or advice on what path to follow. Somehow the patient or surviving relative is informed about radon being a known cause of lung cancer. Without hesitation, the diagnosis of lung cancer is the greatest instigator to radon testing and mitigation if the level is elevated even slightly. Unfortunately for thousands of people, the information comes too late.
Whatever the influencer is, our citizens need to be educated and informed so preventive measures and action for a healthy home, school, and workplace can be provided. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In this case a simple test and preventive action could save a life.
Gloria Linnertz
January 28, 2017
Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction