One of the best ways to stay healthy is to limit exposure to toxic substances. This means taking the time to research when and how you come into contact with toxic substances. Then you’ve got to make an effort to reduce exposure.
Unfortunately, toxic substances are everywhere. They’re in food, water supplies and even paint, but it's relatively easy to avoid them.
Here are five harmful substances and how to avoid them.
Radon
According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among those who don’t smoke. And it’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer in general. Radon exposure causes 21,000 people to die of lung cancer every year. And smoking combined with radon exposure raises the chance of developing lung cancer even more than smoking alone.
So just what is radon? According to the American Cancer Society, radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It forms in soil and rock and can find its way underground (like in our basements), into the air and onto the surface of water.
In some buildings, high levels of radon can be found. This is why building inspectors regularly test basements for radon. When it comes to radon in homes, testing should be a priority. If you don’t want to hire an inspector, purchase a home radon test.