Radon putting Ohioans at risk
Radon demonstrates that what you don’t see can hurt you.
Radon is a radioactive gas that can seep undetected into our homes, mixing into the air we breathe and boosting our risk of lung cancer. Nearly one in 15 U.S. homes is believed to have an elevated radon level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says, and the risk is especially high in most of Ohio.
It’s a serious problem, experts say. Radon kills an estimated 21,000 people each year, according to the EPA. That’s more than die because of drunk driving.
But there’s good news: Testing for radon with a do-it-yourself kit is simple and cheap, and the problem can be fixed at a cost that’s not exorbitant.
The EPA, the Ohio Department of Health and other radon activists are trying to get the word out during January, which has been designated National Radon Action Month.
The hope is that every home will be tested, said Marybeth Rich, sanitarian program specialist with the Ohio Department of Health. ”You can’t know you have the problem till you test,” she said.
What is radon?
Radon comes from the decay of uranium, which is deposited irregularly in the Earth’s crust and is found in soil, rock and water. The gas can enter your home through cracks, joints and other openings in the foundation.
Radon can also come from water, particularly well water, and can be released into the air when you take a shower, turn on a faucet, wash clothes or use water in other ways. However, that risk is relatively small, the EPA says.
Radon can also be produced by building materials such as stone, but the EPA says they rarely cause problems on their own.
A house that’s especially airtight or one that’s closed up in winter can have higher readings because the radon builds up inside, said Robert Lann, an Akron home inspector who is also licensed to test for radon. But there’s no way to tell whether your house has a radon problem by the way it’s built or where it’s located.
Even next-door neighbors can vary greatly in their homes’ radon levels. ”It’s really just spread out,” Lann said. ” It’s house to house sometimes.”
Why is Ohio at risk?
Underlying Ohio are two geological phenomena that put most of the state in the highest risk category for radon. One is a shale outcropping; the other is sediment that was deposited by glaciers. Both are associated with high amounts of radon.
A broad swath across the middle of Ohio is considered by the EPA to have the highest potential for elevated radon levels. Summit, Wayne and Stark counties are among those 53 counties.
Dangerously high radon levels have been found in nearly 31.6 percent of buildings in Summit County, 48 percent in Stark County and 49.3 percent in Wayne County, according to data on the University of Toledo’s Ohio Radon Information System Web site. In those buildings, tests found radon levels of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air or higher, the level at which the EPA recommends action.