Montgomery County recommends all houses be tested for radon poisoning, according to their website.
Radon is a gas that, while not dangerous outdoors because of the diluted air, can build up to dangerous levels indoors, no matter the home’s age. Montgomery County has high radon levels in the soil that usually spills into cracks and other holes in a building’s foundation, walls and joints, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Radon poisoning is the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to this website. Symptoms of lung cancer from radon exposure may include the following:
- Persistent cough
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
As of October 1, 2016, Montgomery County has required radon testing when every single-family home is going up for sale.
