Radon is a real problem

Radon is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless radioactive gas that is naturally occurring. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

Outdoors, radon is diluted and poses no problem. However, inside an enclosed space, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels. Radon can become trapped inside homes, schools, and workplaces through cracks and holes in the foundation. There are steps you can take to check and mitigate radon if needed.

January is Kansas Radon Action Month so now is a perfect time to check your home for radon. Most counties in the state of Kansas, including all four counties in the River Valley District, are known to have high levels of radon. One in four homes in Kansas has a high level of radon. Testing is the only way to know the radon levels in your home.

You can purchase a radon test at your local Extension Office today for $6.00. Each test comes with everything you need, including detailed instructions on how to properly implement the test.

Once you receive your test results, if radon levels are high, installing a radon mitigation system is the answer. The Kansas Radon Program has a list of certified radon service professionals that can install a radon mitigation system. If you are a do-ityourself kind of person, the Kansas Radon Program has information on how to complete this indepth project. Both these resources can be found online at www.kansasradonprogram.org.

Additional resources, facts, and information on radon can be found online at www.kansasradonprogram.org, at your local Extension Office, or by contacting Monica Thayer, Family Resource Management Extension Agent, at 785-527-5084 or mthayer@ksu.edu.