Health News
Combined exposure to tobacco smoke and radon, an odorless gas that comes from small amounts of radioactive minerals in limestone bedrock, contribute to increased risk of lung cancer for Kentuckians.
Not only do high smoking rates and lack of smoking bans expose Kentuckians to high levels of tobacco smoke, the state's laws don't require testing and monitoring of radon, Elizabeth Adams notes in a University of Kentucky news release that gives this warning: "The risk of lung cancer increases 10-fold when a person is exposed to both high levels of radon and tobacco smoke." She gives two steps to reduce the risk:
Reduce exposure to second- and third-hand smoke. Do not allow smoking in your home or car, and ask smokers who go outside to smoke need to cover their clothes with a jacket before returning inside, or they will bring third hand smoke in with them. Of course, quitting smoking is the best way to protect your health and the health of your family.
Test your home for radon every two years. One can often obtain a free test kit from the health department or purchase one at a home improvement store. Renters can ask their landlord about radon testing. If the radon level reaches 4.0 or above, a radon mitigation system will become necessary. Opening windows or increasing ventilation won't solve the problem. Instead, call a certified radon mitigation company.
If someone living in your house smokes cigarettes, cigars or pipes, you might be eligible to participate in a UK research study examining the combined effects of smoke and radon. To learn more about the study, send an email to [email protected] or call 859-323-4587.
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Health News
Combination of tobacco smoke and high radon levels increase Kentuckians' risk of getting lung cancer by a factor of 10
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| Red counties are expected to have an indoor radon level high enough to require a radon mitigation system. (USEPA map) |
Not only do high smoking rates and lack of smoking bans expose Kentuckians to high levels of tobacco smoke, the state's laws don't require testing and monitoring of radon, Elizabeth Adams notes in a University of Kentucky news release that gives this warning: "The risk of lung cancer increases 10-fold when a person is exposed to both high levels of radon and tobacco smoke." She gives two steps to reduce the risk:
Reduce exposure to second- and third-hand smoke. Do not allow smoking in your home or car, and ask smokers who go outside to smoke need to cover their clothes with a jacket before returning inside, or they will bring third hand smoke in with them. Of course, quitting smoking is the best way to protect your health and the health of your family.
Test your home for radon every two years. One can often obtain a free test kit from the health department or purchase one at a home improvement store. Renters can ask their landlord about radon testing. If the radon level reaches 4.0 or above, a radon mitigation system will become necessary. Opening windows or increasing ventilation won't solve the problem. Instead, call a certified radon mitigation company.
If someone living in your house smokes cigarettes, cigars or pipes, you might be eligible to participate in a UK research study examining the combined effects of smoke and radon. To learn more about the study, send an email to [email protected] or call 859-323-4587.
- Opinion: Toward A Healthier Kentucky, With A Smoke-free Law
By the Friedell Committee for Health System Transformation It is no secret that Kentucky is among the unhealthiest states in our country. Kentucky is No. 7 in cardiovascular deaths, No. 1 in cancer deaths, No. 1 in lung cancer, and No. 13 in...
- Uk Cancer-center Director Urges Lawmakers To Raise Cigarette Tax And Pass A Statewide Smoking Ban To Reduce Cancer Deaths
The Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky supports a statewide smoking ban and an increase in the state cigarette tax to significantly reduce cancer deaths in the state, the center's director told a legislative committee Sept. 3....
- Study In Ky., 3 Other States Indicates Exposure To Secondhand Smoke In Vehicles Can Cause Asthma Attacks In Non-smokers
Kentucky adults who have never smoked are more likely to have an asthma attack when exposed to secondhand smoke in a vehicle than those who are not exposed, according to a research paper recently published in Tobacco Control, an international, peer-reviewed...
- Great American Smokeout Is Thursday, Nov. 21, Featuring Supportive Characters To Share On Social Media And A Twitter Chat
The American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout will be held Thursday, Nov. 21. The event encourages smokers to quit smoking, or make a plan to quit smoking, that day. Quitting, even for one day, according to the Cancer Society,...
- World No Tobacco Day To Be Observed Tuesday
World No Tobacco Day 2011 will be observed Tuesday, with goals of encouraging tobacco abstinence for a 24-hour period, as well as drawing attention to the dangers of tobacco use. The observance, created by the World Health Organization in 1987, occurs...