Radon, Who Discovered It?
This January, more than 30 county health departments in Ohio will be launching a joint public health campaign. The goal is to urge Ohioans to test for radon in their homes with a free test kit.
The campaign hopes to help residents “see” radon which is an invisible gas. Radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. This makes testing the only way to determine if the deadly gas is in your home. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, and has been found in many Ohio homes. Radon leaks into homes through cracks in the foundation, openings around sump pumps and drains, construction joints, and cracks in walls. Radon exposure is responsible for over 21,000 deaths annually nationwide.
According to the EPA zoning map, most Ohio is at risk for high levels of radon in the soil. We have high concentrations of uranium in our soil and therefore the EPA has deemed most counties in Ohio a zone 1 radon risk.
This rating means that over 50% of the buildings in the area will test high for radon gas.
The next step is to remove it by putting in a radon mitigation system. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mitigation systems can cost between $900 and $2,500 with an average cost of $1,200.
To learn more about radon or to order a free test kit, please visit www.uchd.net/radon or www.epa.gov/radon.
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