The EPA has designated each county in the U.S. as a zone one, two or three, with zone one counties having the highest potential for elevated radon levels. More than half of Ohio’s 88 counties, including Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren, are listed as zone one.
“Radon is a health risk. It is a breakdown of uranium in the soil, and this area has more of that in it that some other parts of the country,” said Brian Huxtable, RAPCA air pollution control specialist. “You don’t really know if you have it unless you test for it. There are ways to correct problems in the home.”
Despite the high death toll as a result of radon, Huxtable said he doesn’t believe most people pay it enough attention.
“I think for a long time people said it’s not that big a deal,” he said. “One in 15 homes nationwide are estimated to have elevated levels of radon though. It’s such a cheap thing to test for, and even mitigation costs are not expensive compared to developing lung cancer.”
The only way to know if radon levels are high in a home is to have it tested. According to RAPCA, a short-term test can be done by the homeowner for $6.95. For a more clear picture of the radon levels in a home year-round, 90-day long-term tests are available as well. They can be found at www.ohio.radon.com or by calling (800) 247-2435.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-0603 or nwaggenspack@ DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author