BREWSTER, NY—With cold weather comes an environmental health hazard that many people are not very familiar with. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. In fact, according to the American Lung Association, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. For people who do not smoke, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer. In Putnam County as well as New York State, lung and bronchus cancers are the most common cause of cancer death, and second only to prostate and breast cancer in terms of incidence.

Radon unfortunately is nearly everywhere. It occurs naturally in the environment and is present to varying degrees in rocks, water, and soil from the radioactive decay of uranium or thorium in that soil. The risk of exposure to radon rises in winter because people spend more time indoors. Windows are shut and homes are sealed up to keep the cold out. This can cause radon to build up inside. The Environmental Protection Agency, known as the EPA, has developed a radon zone map that helps local organizations and government agencies, like the Putnam County Department of Health, to identify areas at higher risk. Putnam falls into a red zone with the highest potential for radon exposure—where indoor rates may be greater than 4 picocuries per liter, abbreviated as 4 pCi/L.

“Having this information is very helpful,” said Public Health Director Rian Rodriguez, MPH. “We can educate residents about the possible danger and most importantly how to reduce the risks for themselves and their families. Just because Putnam is in a high-risk zone, does not automatically mean a home here will have high levels. The only way to know is to perform an in-home test for radon.” 

The good news is that home test kits are easy to use and readily available. They are available for $12.25 from the New York State Department of Health website. They are also available for purchase at most home repair and improvement stores for $10 to $20, and online from the American Lung Association.

While radon is a serious risk factor for lung cancer, smoking is an even more potent factor, causing about 80 percent of all lung cancers and lung cancer deaths according to the EPA and the American Cancer Society. However, for individuals who do not smoke, radon is the number-one cause of lung cancer. According to a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of American Medical Association last fall, l5 to 25 percent of all lung cancer cases worldwide are in people described as nonsmokers, which means they have smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. For decades it has been known that the combined effects of radon and smoking are synergistic, meaning that smokers exposed to radon are at even higher risk to develop lung cancer—and it is more than just a sum of the combined factors. The American Lung Association recently reported that for people who smoke, the risk of radon-related lung cancer increases about 10 times. 

Unfortunately, smoking rates have been increasing in Putnam County. The recently released Community Health Assessment, called the CHA, reports that from 2018 to 2021 rates of Putnam residents who smoke increased 85 percent, going from 9.0 percent to 16.7 percent over that period. 

To help residents quit, the health department offers the American Lung Association’s evidenced-based program called Freedom From Smoking. The program is offered free to Putnam residents and class schedules are announced on the Putnam County Department of Health. To help plan the next session, interested residents are encouraged to contact the health department. They can provide information about their time availability and preference for in-person or virtual classes by calling the health department at 845-808-1390 or clicking here.

“If you have ever wanted to quit, or have tried before but have been unsuccessful, this is the program to try,” said Alexa Contreras, RN, a bilingual health educator at the Putnam County Department of Health. She facilitates the seven-week series along with health educator Victoria DiLonardo, who also reminds residents that, “Quitting tobacco is considered one of the best things you can do to improve your health. And most people who quit for good have had previous attempts. So, it pays to keep trying.”

Avoiding radon can be another beneficial yet challenging task. Using a home test kit is the first step. If results show a level above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends taking some corrective action to lower the level. Things can be done to fix the issue, and costs vary depending on how involved the necessary work is. 

Homes today can be constructed to be more radon resistant, but all homes, new and old, should have an initial test. Then tests should be performed every two to five years. Each home is different: one may have higher radon levels, while just next door the levels are within safe limits. Routes of radon’s entry are not always obvious. They can include cracks in the foundation or concrete slab, exposed soil, loose-fitting pipes, or water. Only a home test, usually left for a few days in a basement area, can determine if radon has entered inside. If radon is identified as an issue in the home and a radon reduction system is in place, the NYS Department of Health recommends testing every two years to make sure the system is working properly.

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the County website at www.putnamcountyny.gov, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, X, and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.  

Resources:

NYS Department of Health website: 
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radon/ 
(Multiple languages available.) 

American Lung Association—Double Risk: How Radon and Smoking Fuel Lung Cancer (Multiple languages available)
https://www.lung.org/blog/radon-smoking-synergy
(Multiple languages available)

American Lung Association—Radon
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/radon
(Multiple languages available)

American Cancer Society—Radon and Cancer Risk
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/radiation-exposure/radon.html
(Multiple languages available)

American Cancer Society—Lung Cancer Risks for People Who Don’t Smoke
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/why-lung-cancer-strikes-nonsmokers.html
(Multiple languages available)

Environmental Protection Agency—Health Risk of Radon
https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon  

Environmental Protection Agency—EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-05/documents/402-r-03-003.pdf