Date Published: 01/27/2020 [Source]
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will present an educational workshop on radon, and what you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe.
According to The American Cancer Society, radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas. It forms naturally from the breaking down of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found in different amounts in soil and rock throughout the world.
Radon is present outdoors and indoors.
The workshop will be hosted at Unity Square, 81 Remsen Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 30 starting at 10 a.m. Attendance is free.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. It may take years before health problems appear.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.