Date Published: 05/21/2007 [Source]
It reportedly causes more death than drunken driving, drowning and home fires, yet radon has never received the respect as a threat to public health that health experts believe it deserves.
Part of the reason, experts note, is the nature of the gas itself. Though radioactive, it is naturally occurring, not man-made. Being tasteless and invisible, it also is not easy to detect.
A new law authored by Rep. Kim Norton and signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty this month mandates that a radon mitigation system be installed in homes at the time of construction. The requirement is expected to add an extra $500 to the price tag of a house, home builders say.