Date Published: 01/13/2020 [Source]
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department is urging people to test for Radon in their homes. The naturally occurring radioactive gas is invisible, odorless and tasteless. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) offers free radon tests.
County Health Officer Dr. Paul Hendricks said radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. He said Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States.
"The only way to find out if you have a problem with Radon gas in your home is through testing," Hendricks said.
Dr. Henricks said residents should hang the test in the lowest level of the home that people spend time in. He suggests residents test their homes for Radon every two years.
"Tennessee (because of its geography) tends to be one of the higher incidents states of radon so it's really important for us to test for it," Hendricks said. "It's the only way you can find out if it's a problem or not."