January is Radon awareness month and the perfect time to get your home tested for Radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, usually found in the bedrock and soil homes sit atop. Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that typically enters the home through gaps and cracks in the walls and foundation. It’s considered to be the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
In Nebraska, more than half of homes in the state have tested levels above of 4.0 pCi/L. According to the EPA, a 4.0 pCi/L is considered a “need to take action” level. The average level for a home indoors is estimated to be 1.3 pCi/L.
To test your home for radon levels, you can contact the Two Rivers Public Health Department for a self-administered test.
TRPHD Planning Section Supervisor, Katie Mulligan explained that the test is easy to use, ” The contents of the test kit are deceivingly simple. It’s basically just neutralized carbon. You know you have your deactivated charcoal in your test kit bag and it absorbs the particles of radon, and then you ship it to this lab in North Carolina, and they test for how much particles of radon are in the bag and tell you how many per picoCurie liter you have.”
Tests are only $10 per kit, and can be obtain at the Two Rivers Department office located at 516 W 11th St Suite 108, Kearney, NE.
The test is the size of a postcard and must be hung in the lowest part of the home undisturbed for 3-7 days. The test should then be sealed and mailed to the testing facility. Results should arrive in about 2-4 weeks.
If results are above 4.0 pCi/L, the next step to take is to remove and prevent further radon leaking into the home.
One method is improving ventilation in the basement and home. Another method is sealing the cracks in the foundation to help reduce the level of radon from entering.
However, the best method is installing a mitigation system, which will remove radon before it enters the home.
More information about radon prevention, and removal can be found at cdc.gov/radon. To find local businesses that do radon removal call TRPHD at (888) 669-7154 or visit trphd.ne.gov.
Listen to our interview below to hear more about Radon testing and more with the Two Rivers Public Health Department.
