(KLZA)-- The Center for Disease Control wants to let people know about the risks of radon poisoning by designating January 24-28 as Radon Awareness Week. Earlier this week, Governor Ricketts named this month as Radon Action Month in the State of Nebraska.  

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. That it is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Smoking and second-hand smoke, combined with exposure to high radon levels, increase the risk of lung cancer. Nebraska is third in the nation with the potential for high radon levels, the most vulnerable area being the eastern third of the state. The reason behind the vulnerability is the rock layer under ground in Nebraska is closer to the surface than in other areas of the country 

Radon is a naturally occurring odorless and radioactive gas (a byproduct of uranium) that can get trapped in homes and buildings. It exposes the people who live and work inside, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer later in life over time; this risk is even higher among those who smoke cigarettes. Radon is released from rocks, soil, and water, and builds up into homes. Any home in any state, with or without a basement, new or old, can have high levels of radon. When buying a new home, it is almost always less expensive and easier to build mitigation features into these homes than to add them later.

When breathing in radon, radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas gets trapped in the lungs. It takes many years for lung cancer to develop. Most people don't have symptoms until lung cancer is advanced which at that point is harder to treat. For these reasons, it is important to take steps to reduce radon exposure.