PICKAWAY – In recognition of National Radon Action Month, Pickaway County Public Health is urging residents to test their homes. According to the EPA, an estimated 1 in 15 homes in the U.S. have high radon levels — and high radon levels can be a risk anywhere.
“Long-term exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and the top cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers,” said ODH Director Amy Acton, MD, MPH. “Running this easy, inexpensive test is an important first step in protecting your family from a devastating disease that kills thousands of Ohioans each year.”
“We encourage the residents of Pickaway County to take advantage of the free radon testing kits offered by the Ohio Department of Health,” said Health Commissioner, Nasandra Wright MPH, RS. “Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.”
Living in a home with high radon levels can be dangerous for your health. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and it is estimated to cause over 20,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Because of the ways that radon and tobacco smoke damage the lungs, high radon levels are especially dangerous for people who smoke. Their risk of lung cancer is 10 times higher than non-smokers.
Radon, a radioactive gas, builds up in homes over time and can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled — so it’s easy for radon problems to go unnoticed. It can migrate into any type of home through cracks or openings in the foundation. The only way to know if you have a radon problem is to test your home. Pickaway County Public Health recommends that all homes get tested for radon. Home radon tests are simple and inexpensive — and can help save lives.
ODH offers free testing kits to Ohio homeowners with household incomes less than $80,500 by going to https://www.doctorhomeair.com/ohio-free/ or by calling 1-800-523-4439. Others can order the kits for a discounted $10.95, which includes analysis. You could also have your home evaluated by a radon tester licensed by ODH to follow specific protocols.
For general questions about radon’s health effects or to discuss radon testing, contact ODH radon education staff at 1-800-523-4439 or [email protected]. Information about the health department is available on our website at www.pchd.org. For additional information on services provided please call us at (740) 477-9667.
