Rob Kinsey has been a licensed builder for 25 years and is a home inspector with more than 15 years of experience.

Sturgis, Mich. — Last week’s column addressed the issue of radon testing. It pointed out that radon is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. What it didn’t give was much information about radon itself.

Radon is a silent killer. It relies on stealth, and apathy. By its nature, it is silent. And, as I noted last week, it is immune to detection by our five senses. It’s invisible, patient and relies on us doing nothing. Essentially it uses the adage, out of sight, out of mind.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas. It comes from the breakdown of uranium deep within the ground. Please do not ask me how a rock can break down into other things and along the line become a deadly gas. That science is advanced well beyond my education. But then again so is chemistry and flying through space — yet I believe in them.

NEVADA - Elevated levels of radon have been found in 37 percent of the Carson City homes that have been tested, said Susan Howe, program director for the Nevada Radon Education Program through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

Howe was in Carson City this past week to request that the board of supervisors declare January National Radon Action Month.

Howe said that the radon percentage is even higher — 56 percent — in the 89703 zip code, and nearly 43 percent in the 89702 area. In the 89706 neighborhoods, which include a portion of Lyon County, the percentage was nearly 22 percent, and in 89701, it was more than 26 percent. In 89705, which is mostly Douglas County, it was nearly 20 percent.

Radon levels are measured in picoCuries per liter, or pCi/L. Most households testing positive in Carson City were in the 0-20 range, some were up to 50, but one home in the 89701 zip code area measured levels of over 100.

Invisible Gas is Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer

Watch this KJCT8 news segment.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- We have a warning for you about a lung cancer-causing gas that could be lurking inside your home.

It's called Radon. The byproduct of decomposing Uranium deep below the earth's surface seeps up through the ground and can become trapped inside your home, especially during the winter.

It's the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States right behind smoking.

Experts say you should use a test kit to figure out your home's levels. And if they're high, they're advising that you pay the money to get rid of the Radon.

January is National Radon Action Month and the Nevada Radon Education Program at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is sponsoring a “Test Your Home for Radon and Win Contest” for residents of Douglas, Carson City and Washoe counties.

The “Test Your Home for Radon and Win Contest” will provide two Carson City, Douglas or Washoe county homeowners with a $1,500 credit towards the installation of a radon mitigation system.

"We hope the contest encourages more homeowners to test their homes for radon," said Susan Howe, Nevada Radon Education Program director. "We're adding the incentive of winning two $1,500 credits toward two radon mitigation systems to increase awareness of the importance of mitigating homes with elevated radon levels."

The results of radon testing in the Fox Valley are in — and it's not good news, especially in the Neenah-Menasha area.

The latest testing data compiled by the state Department of Health Services suggests nearly half the homes in Winnebago, Outagamie, Waupaca and Calumet counties contain radon concentrations surpassing the federal safety standard.

The readings reported in homes in Winnebago and Waupaca counties were off the charts, registering radon concentrations some 60 times higher than what the EPA deems safe.

David Daniels, the owner of Radon Specialists of Wisconsin in Neenah, knows that some residents question the prevalence of radon contamination in and near their homes. But he said that should not deter them from testing radon levels in their homes, using inexpensive and widely available radon test kits.

OTTAWA — Canadians should have their homes checked for radon, a colourless and odourless gas that can have potentially deadly effects over time, health organizations warn.

The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Lung Association and Health Canada have joined forces to raise awareness about exposure to radon.

Formed by the breakdown of uranium, the naturally occurring radioactive gas is present in all soil. In the open air, radon gas is diluted to low levels and does not pose a health risk. But radon can enter a home through dirt floors, cracks in concrete, joints and basement drains; in enclosed spaces such as basements, the gas can reach levels harmful to health.

"Many Canadians are not aware of the risks from residential radon gas and what they can do to stay healthy," CMA president Dr. Jeff Turnbull said in a release Tuesday. "With winter approaching, physicians want to make sure their patients are aware of this potential health hazard."

ORIGINAL POST

Overview
Mineral crystals form the colors, mottling and striations that make granite an attractive choice for countertops, but those crystals can contain radioactive elements like uranium. Over time, uranium breaks down into a gas called radon. Radon is radioactive and you can't detect it by sight, smell or taste, which leaves consumers wondering about the safety of granite countertops.

Risk

Marshall Loeb, former editor of the magazines Fortune and Money writes a Daily Money Tip feature for Dow Jones MarketWatch. On Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Mr. Loeb's tip was to test for radon. Read the full article here.

Protecting a Home From Silent Threat

October 1, 2008

The cost of heating a home is expected to be higher than ever this winter, so this is a good time to batten down the hatches by caulking, sealing and weather-stripping every cold air entry point.

But homeowner beware: the quick fix could create a more serious set of problems, because the better you are at sealing icy air out, the more likely you are to keep potentially harmful gases like radon sealed in.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can’t be seen, smelled or tasted. “It is a classic carcinogen,” said Philip Jalbert, the radon team leader for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. “We estimate that about 20,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer every year,” making it the country’s second-highest cause of lung cancer, behind smoking.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- A bill that would regulate the trade of testing homes and businesses for radon has cleared the Kentucky House by a wide margin.

The measure would require radon testers to be licensed, take part in continuing education and be bonded. The proposal passed the House on an 85-12 vote Tuesday, and it now heads to the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Steve Riggs of Louisville said in a release that his bill comes after "horror stories" from victims of shoddy work who basically got nothing for their money.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas.

Riggs cited federal statistics indicating that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and is responsible for 21,000 deaths nationwide each year.

The legislation is House Bill 247.

To view this article, visit http://www.fox41.com/story/14037288/house-oks-bill-to-regulate-radon-testers.