Press Release:   January is Radon Action Month

Date:   December 29, 2009

Contact:   Vicki Duey, Four Corners Health Department

January is Radon Action Month and is an opportune time for Nebraskans to test for radon in their homes.   During winter homes are closed up and can trap the toxic gas.

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually.  “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for people who have never smoked,” said Vicki Duey, Executive Director of Four Corners Health Department.

Radon comes from the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the earth’s soil and can accumulate indoors to dangerous levels. It can enter homes through cracks or holes in concrete floors or walls, sump pits, and drinking water from private wells. Once trapped inside an enclosed space, radon can accumulate.

For homeowners wanting to assess their exposure to radon, the suggested method is to start with a short-term (48 – 72 hours) test. This is a do-it-yourself test that is easy to do.You must maintain closed home conditions for 12 hours prior to and during the test. This means all windows closed and entry/exit kept to a minimum. Test should be placed in the lowest level of your home that you spend time, and typically placed about the level of a coffee table or end table.

If your initial short-term test yields results of 10.0 pCi/L or more, another short-term test is recommended to verify the results of the initial test. If the second test also yields results above the action level, mitigation of the home is recommended.

During the Month of January, Four Corners Health Department in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is providing radon test kits to those interested in testing for Radon at no cost.

The testing kits can be picked up during January at the Seward Extension office, Polk County Health Department in Osceola, Butler County Health Department in David City and Four Corners Health Department in York. 

If you have questions regarding radon, call Four Corners Health Department at 877-337-3573 or go to www.fourcorners.ne.gov