Washington DC -- The office of the U.S. Surgeon General has warned the American public about the risks of breathing indoor radon by issuing a national health advisory. The advisory is meant to urge Americans to prevent this silent radioactive gas from seeping into their homes and building up to dangerous levels.

Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas, with no immediate health symptoms, that comes from the breakdown of uranium inside the earth. Simple test kits can reveal the amount of radon in any building. Those with high levels can be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, one in every 15 homes nationwide has a high radon level at or above the recommended radon action level of 4 picoCuries (pCi/L) per liter of air.

Abu Dhabi | The Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has issued health guidance on quality of indoor air to the public in light of climate change and the onset of winter in particular.

The guidelines provide information on how to maintain air purity and avoid pollutants which have a significant impact on human health.
HE Engineer Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, said: “The issuance of health guidance and awareness campaigns is part of HAAD’s Public Health strategy. In summer HAAD in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, implemented the ‘Work in the Heat’ program aimed at increasing awareness of heat stress and prevention of heat illness amongst employers and workers in the capital”.

Federal guidelines for hazardous substances like radon, asbestos and lead already exist, but for those with mold lurking in their home, there's little warning.

No standards for the fungal growth have been set, despite a warning from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2008 that "indoor mold poses a widespread and, for some people, serious health threat."