January is Radon Action Month, and Knox Public Health (KPH) recommends local residents to test their homes for radon – it’s easy and inexpensive.
Testing can avoid the dangerous health risks associated with high levels of radon.
Knox County has the highest average radon test level in Ohio. This data is gathered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) from all professional radon tests conducted since 2002.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste. Because radon is a gas, it can easily drift upward through the ground to the Earth’s surface – and could enter the lowest level of a building, such as a home’s basement. Exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.
Though harmful, radon is relatively easy to control. Testing is the only way to find out if radon is in a home. ODH estimates half of Ohio homes have radon levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended action level of 4 picoCuries/liter (4 pCi/l) of air.
To request a free or discounted radon testing kit from Knox Public Health through ODH's Radon Program, visit KnoxHealth.com. Hover over the “Environmental Health” tab, then click on “Radon.” Alternatively, call the environmental health team at 740-392-2200, Option 3, and inquire about radon testing kits. People may also purchase a low-cost ($10 to $25) radon test kit from a local home improvement store.
