Low Rates of Radon, Lung Cancer in California: 2022 Report

The Golden Gate Bridge from Battery Spencer, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in San Francisco, Calif., in a file photo. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A newly released report by the American Lung Association found California ranked low nationwide for lung cancer cases and radon levels in 2022.

The “State of Lung Cancer 2022” report found the state recorded significantly lower lung cancer cases than the U.S. average with 40 lung cancer cases per 100,000 residents. The state ranked third overall—behind New Mexico and Utah—for the lowest rate of lung cancer among residents.

Kentucky ranked highest with 87 lung cancer cases per 100,000 residents.

The Golden State also ranked in the top tier for its overall low percentage of radon found in homes. The report found 8 percent of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

California ranked fifth-lowest for radon levels among all states, behind Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Hawaii.

States with the highest levels of radon in homes were South Dakota (59.8 percent), North Dakota (58 percent), and Iowa (57.9 percent).

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, according to EPA reports.

The EPA estimates radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths are people who have never smoked.

“Since radon is odorless, tasteless and colorless, the only way to detect radon in your home is to test the air. This is why it is critical for everyone to test their home,” Michael Seilback, National Assistant Vice President of State Public Policy for the Lung Association, said in a Jan. 4 statment.

Radon is found in nearly all soils. The gas typically moves up through the ground and into homes through cracks in floors, walls, and foundations. Radon can also enter through well water or certain building materials, though building materials rarely cause radon problems.

Other findings in this year’s report found that California had one of the lowest rates of smokers in the nation. Only 9 percent of adults reportedly smoke in the state, compared to the national average of 14 percent.

This placed the state second in the nation behind Utah, where 8 percent of the population smokes.