Your home may be your new office or a classroom this year. No matter how much time you spend at home, it is recommended to test for radon and know what level your home is at.
Radon is known to be the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers.
Radon occurs naturally in the soil. Kansas soils generate significant amounts of radon leading to the potential for homes to have elevated concentrations of this naturally-occurring class A carcinogen. Radon seeps into homes and other buildings through joints or cracks in the foundation.
One in four homes in Kansas will test at or above the EPA’s radon action level. Test kits are available at each Southwind Extension Office for $7, this includes lab analysis and return postage. Instructions are included, following them is important so the results will reveal the potential for elevated concentrations in the lowest lived-in level of the home.
If your results are low, consider repeating the test every two or three years or whenever there is a significant change in the home’s foundation, heating system or air tightness from weatherization efforts.
If radon is present above the recommended ceiling (4.0 pCiL/Pico Curies per liter), a confirmatory test should be conducted. If you want to know the radon concentration in other areas of your home, conduct the desired number of tests at the same time. When high results are confirmed, consult a radon professional for mitigation system installation.
More information about radon, including testing and mitigation, is available at Kansas Radon Program at kansasradonprogram.org and by phone, toll-free: 1-800-693-5343. The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Radon Program Services is housed in the Engineering Extension Department at K-State.
Follow us on Facebook @southwindextensiondistrict or Instagram @southwind_ext. For more information, contact Joy Miller at [email protected] or by calling 620-223-3720.
