Editor’s note: The following information is supplied by the Union County Health Department.
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January is National Radon Action Month, when Ohio residents are urged to test their homes for radon.
Soil in Central Ohio can have high levels of radon gas. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and it can seep into homes.
To help protect residents, the Union County Health Department (UCHD) offers eligible homeowners free test kits.
“Winter is the best time to test your home,” said UCHD Environmental Health Director Marcia Dreiseidel. “During these colder months, our homes are closed up, trapping gases inside and providing more accurate radon readings.”
Radon gas results from the decay of naturally occurring uranium found in nearly all soils. Radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, making testing the only way to determine if it is in one’s home. Radon can leak into homes through cracks in foundations, openings around sump pumps and drains, construction joints and cracks in walls.
Elevated levels have been found in all areas of the country, including Central Ohio. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) and the EPA has identified 4 pCi/L as a recommended action level.
“Union County has been designated as a zone one area on the EPA’s radon map,” Dreiseidel said. “This means the EPA predicts that homes within our area could have high radon levels. Therefore, it is important all homeowners in our area test for radon gas.”
According to the University of Toledo’s Ohio Radon Information System, 2,754 Union County homes have been tested for radon. If a home registers high levels of radon, it can be removed through a variety of mitigation systems.
Homeowners with a household income less than $80,500 can get a free test kit at www.uchd.net/radon. Complete an online form and a free test kit will be mailed within a few weeks. Test kits are also available for purchase at most hardware and home improvement stores.