In the News: Former US Olympian "Radon Gave me Cancer"

Former US Olympic Hockey player Rachael Malmberg was quoted by People Magazine in January 2019, sharing that prolonged exposure to radon in her childhood home lead to a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.

Two years ago when Malmberg, a career athlete and no stranger to aches and pains, began experiencing constant discomfort in her back and ribs, she chalked it up to grueling workouts. After visiting a doctor, however, Rachael was informed she had lung cancer, and began an aggressive treatment plan that included monthly medication costs of $20,000, the removal of 22 lymph nodes from her body, and radiation in her brain.

During this process, Malmberg researched lung cancer, finding that outside of smoking, prolonged exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of fatal lung cancer - according to the National Cancer Institute, 15,000 - 22,000 people die annually.

Radon gas is the byproduct of decaying uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal found all over the world. This gas seeps into homes, businesses, and schools through cracks in the foundation, collecting in the indoor atmosphere over time. Radon can only be discovered through testing, as it is without odor or color - it can remain undetectable for years.

While everyone breathes trace amounts of radon in their daily lives, the real danger comes from consistent exposure over time at levels of 4 pCI/L or higher. According to the EPA, the safest level is 0.4 pCi/L or lower.

Malmberg now believes radon exposure in her childhood home (7.9 pCi/L), combined with exposure in her Minnesota home (6.7 pCi/L) led to her cancer diagnosis.

Happily, Rachael was cleared of cancer in August 2018, and as a board member of the American Lung Association of Minnesota, as well as a participant in six medical studies, she plans to advocate for awareness in Washington, D.C. in March.

January was National Radon Month - what are you doing to protect your family in 2019?