The city of Athens might follow the lead of surrounding cities and implement mandatory radon testing for new structures.

Engineer Brent Meadows with the Public Works Department said in a work session before the Planning Commission meeting Tuesday that he was contacted by Rod Huffman, chairman of the commission, three weeks ago and asked to look into mandatory testing.

Radon, which is produced by the natural decaying of uranium in the soil, is blamed for 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the U.S. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 11 percent of Limestone County homes that have been tested, tested positive for radon.

“This is mostly associated with slab-built homes,” said Meadows. “Currently, we are doing inspections under the ’03 code and up until now we haven’t done radon inspections. But this is a bigger issue than we ever imagined.”