You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but when it gets in your home, it can be deadly.

Radon — the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. — is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all across the country.  North Alabama counties, including Limestone, Madison, Morgan, and Lauderdale, are classified as “Zone 1” counties, which means the occurrences of radon are at the highest levels.  

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a major awareness campaign during January, National Radon Action Month. This campaign will educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and encourage them to take action to protect themselves from adverse effects of radon. It is a health hazard that is present in elevated levels in about 11 percent of Limestone County homes tested.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in a building can be harmful at elevated levels. Scientific evidence supports that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. It is reported that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.  The EPA estimates that one out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels.

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. And, if discovered, radon problems can be fixed. Radon kits that meet EPA guidelines are available at the Limestone County Extension Office for $5 or online at www.aces.edu/radon.  Radon problems can be fixed by trained mitigators.

The Limestone County Extension Office urges Limestone County residents to take action during this year’s National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for elevated levels of radon. It is a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution. For more information on radon, radon testing, and radon mitigation, call the Limestone County Extension Office at 256-232-5510.

Alabama also has a new toll-free number to obtain information on radon and radon testing.  1(855)ALRADON or 1-855-257-2366 is a number where a live person knowledgeable about radon can handle your questions.  The only time callers will get an automated message is during nonbusiness hours or if the staff is assisting other clients.  You can also learn more about radon at its Extension website http://www.aces.edu/fcs/hndh/radon/index.php . 

Facts of radon

• The amount of radon in the air is measured in picocuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/l). When a home’s radon levels are 4 pCi/l or greater, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the radon be reduced or mitigated. This is the EPA’s Action Level.

• The EPA recommends that you have a qualified (certified) contractor fix your home because lowering high radon levels requires specific technical knowledge and special skills. However, if you decide to do the work yourself, get information on appropriate training courses and copies of the EPA’s technical guide documents.

• Building a home radon-ready during construction is easier and cheaper than fixing a radon problem in an existing home. A home built radon-ready has a marketing advantage over homes without a radon-ready system. In addition to lowering the radon level in a home, radon-ready construction techniques can make a home more energy efficient and help save on energy costs.