Healthy Communities
By Virginia Zombek, public health educator
(Wampsville, NY – Jan. 2014) January is National Radon Action Month and with the ringing in of the New Year, it is important to remember to test your home for radon to protect your family’s health. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) estimates as many as one in four Madison County homes has a radon level high enough to be considered a serious health threat.
“Radon causes more cases of lung cancer in America than anything else except cigarette smoking,” according to Madison County Environmental Health Director Geoff Snyder. “The good news is that we can reduce our exposure to this harmful gas. But the only way to know whether the level of radon in the home is higher than recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to test for it. Even though it’s easy and inexpensive to test for radon gas, many people simply are not aware that they should be testing their homes.”
Radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the U.S. It can enter homes through cracks in basements and foundations.
You can perform radon tests yourself at home. Purchase a radon test kit from your local home improvement or hardware stores or get a low-cost test kit from the NYS DOH by mail. The testing procedure takes only a few days and the kits themselves cost only $8.75, including laboratory testing, when ordered through the NYS Health Department.
If radon test results are needed quickly you can also use a certified professional to perform electronic radon tests. If hiring a professional, be sure to use a testing professional certified by the National Radon Safety Board (http://www.nrsb.org) or the National Radon Proficiency Program at http://www.nrpp.info/radon_measurement_service.shtml).
“Radon detection is relatively easy,” Snyder said. “Raising awareness about radon and encouraging families to test their houses can literally save lives. Don’t put off testing. The longer you wait, the longer you and your family may be exposed to harmful radon.”
Madison County Environmental Health staff has created a Radon Action Month display that will be on exhibit at the Madison County Office Complex outside the Department of Motor Vehicles from Monday, Jan. 13 through Friday, Jan. 17. Interested Madison County residents who visit the exhibit may enter a drawing for a free radon kit. The winning entries will be drawn on Friday the 17th and winners notified on how to pick up their free kit.
Applications for the low-cost radon test kits from NYSDOH are also available by calling the Madison County Department of Health at 366-2588 or visiting our website at www.healthymadisoncounty.org under Health Information. Just click “R” for radon. Test your home today!