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Radon
is often described as the silent killer. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency considers it one of the nation's most
serious public health risks. In fact, radon is the second-leading
cause of lung cancer in the United States, just behind tobacco
smoke. The EPA estimates exposure to the gas is responsible
for between 15,000 and 22,000 lung-cancer deaths each year
in the United States.
In outdoor
air, radon is diluted to very low concentrations and isn't
threatening. But when radon is emitted into highly concentrated
areas, such as homes, it can accumulate and threaten the
people who live there. People who smoke and live in homes
with high radon levels are at the greatest risk.
The
EPA and Alabama Department of Public Health, in collaboration
with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and other
state and federal agencies, have identified 15 counties
in Alabama that have the highest potential for radon exposure
and health-related risks. These include Lawrence, Coosa,
Cleburne, Calhoun, Shelby, Talladega, Clay, Jefferson, Madison,
Jackson, Limestone, Morgan, Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin
counties.
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