Date Published: 01/15/2020 [Source]
In recognition of National Radon Action Month, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is encouraging Ohioans to test their homes for the radioactive gas and take steps to reduce risk if elevated levels are detected.
"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."
Colorless and odorless, radon is produced naturally with the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It can migrate into any type of home through cracks or openings in the foundation. According to data collected by the ODH Radon Education and Licensing Program, elevated levels of the gas have been found in homes in all 88 Ohio counties. It's estimated that such levels are present in about half of all Ohio homes.
"The challenge is that we can't see, smell, or taste it, so it's easy to forget that radon may be a problem in any home, school, or building," said Dr. Acton.
Test your home every two years or after renovations, including the installation of windows, exterior doors, insulation, a roof, or a furnace or air conditioner.
ODH offers free testing kits to Ohio homeowners with household incomes less than $80,500.