October 17th – 24th has been designated as “Radon Awareness Week” in the U.S. by the Federal Government. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The U.S. government has has known of this deadly household problem for over two decades. In fact, Ronald Regan passed the National Indoor Radon Abatement Act back in 1988 to address the problem. Despite over 22,000 lung cancer deaths that have occurred every year since the act was passed, it wasn’t until this year that the government actually put a plan of action into place!

On June 20th, 2011; the United States government passed the Federal Radon Action Plan. The plan calls for several branches of the U.S. government to implement programs to reduce the risk of lung cancer to the American public in their homes and workplaces. Among the government sectors called to action are U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the General Services Administration, and the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Interior, and Veterans Affairs.

The plan will put into place measures that will require radon testing and mitigation in American homes and workplaces. Testing for radon gas during real estate transactions will be a requirement and remediation will be necessary when the levels of radon gas are dangerous. Schools, workplaces, and daycare facilities will be tested for radon to protect the American public outside their homes. The goal of the Federal Radon Action Plan is simple: save lives through radon testing and mitigation.

The U.S. government is urging the media to promote Federal Radon Action Week (also being promoted as “Radon Awareness Week” by the U.S.E.P.A.) and spread the message about America’s leading in-home killer. Materials, statistics, and publications about indoor radon gas are available on the EPA’s website or by visiting http://www.RadonWeek.US.