There’s a saying: “What you don’t know can’t hurt you…”
Whether you agree or disagree, K-State Research and Extension is urging property owners to test for radon during National Radon Awareness Month in January. Radon is a naturally occurring element produced from radioactive decay in the soil. The odorless, colorless and tasteless gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non- smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the general population.
National radon surveys have shown that 6 percent of homes in the U.S. have average concentrations above the recommended maximum level. However, the Kansas survey showed that one in four homes were high, according to Brian Hanson, coordinator of the Kansas Radon Program at Kansas State University Research and Extension.
“Anyone can be vulnerable,” said Hanson, who explained that the cancer-causing gas seeps from the soil beneath the home through cracks or joints in the foundation. The good news is that it is typically easy to detect and mitigate radon at a moderate cost.
Detection is relatively simple. Consumers are advised to start with a home radon test kit, which can be purchased from the Ellis County Extension Office for $5.50. Other counties may have slightly different prices; other models may be available at home and hardware stores and on the Internet, usually for $25 or less.
Testing is important, because it’s the only way to tell how much of the gas is present. Conduct tests in the home in the lowest lived-in level (such as a basement or main floor bedroom, living room or family room) about 20 to 24 inches above the floor for two to five days. Testing is most accurate during the winter months when the house is closed up and ventilation is at a minimum. The goal is to measure the potential for elevated radon concentrations that come from the soil beneath the home’s foundation.
Testing in a kitchen or bathroom, in which more humid air and ventilation is typically occurring, is not recommended. It is vital to follow test kit instructions carefully for most accurate results.
If the initial test result is high, a follow-up test with a more sensitive long-term detector is recommended. If the initial result is low, further testing would be advised if living patterns change, if you begin occupying a lower level, or a significant change occurs in the foundation, heating/cooling systems or insulation/air sealing features.
If radon modification is needed, hiring a professional contractor to fix your home is recommended. Lists of certified radon measurement and mitigation contractors are available at the Kansas Radon Program website at www.kansasradonprogram.org/contractors.
In Kansas, since July 1, 2009, residential real estate contracts must contain a specific paragraph recommending radon testing in real estate transactions and disclosure of test results. There are, however, currently no laws requiring such tests or mitigation of high levels of radon, if found.
Radon awareness is recommended for everyone, said Hanson, who noted that an inexpensive test may be all it takes to spare you or a loved one from lung cancer. To purchase a radon test kit for your home, stop by the Ellis County Extension Office at 601 Main Street, Suite A, in downtown Hays, or your own local county Extension office.
More information about radon is available at Extension offices throughout the state, online at www.kansasradonprogram.org and by calling the Kansas Radon Program at 1-800-693-5343.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.