The Central District Health Department will be giving out free radon test kits as part of National Radon Action Month in January.
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Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon exposure. The amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.
As of now, radon was coined the second leading cause of cancer in the United States. Radon is the number one cause of Lung Cancer in non-smokers.
Elevated radon levels can be addressed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that for many common home repairs such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $1200-$1500).
The gas can enter buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls; wherever the foundation is in contact with the soil. Fortunately, the test kits are relatively low-priced and are easy to set up. Radon testing professionals that have been trained and certified can set up testing devices and results can be obtained in 24-72 hours.
The testing kit includes a filter meant to be hung in the house for a few days.
Another reminder from health officials: even if your neighbors do not have elevated levels of radon, you should still test your own home.
Should you test your home? Testing should be conducted between January and March, when windows and doors are closed and heating systems are turned on. As the heat and air conditioning is kept in the home, so is the radon gas. Once the survey is completed on HCPH’s website, your information will be sent to AirChek directly and AirChek will mail the test kit directly to your home. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and unless you test for it you may never know your potential level of risk.
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While radon is oftentimes not thought to be ultra-present in Robeson County, there are areas that have been proven to have high radon levels.
