Your home could pose a threat to your health without you even knowing it.

Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.

A potential killer could be lurking in your home.

Kevin Siers, Radon Mitigation Contractor says, "that's the bad thing about radon. There are no warning signals."

Siers tests for the radio-active gas in homes around the Mid-Ohio Valley.

He says, "radon is a gas that comes from decaying uranium under the soil."

Most people only test when buying or selling a home, but the Environmental Protection Agency suggests otherwise.

Siers adds, "we all should get our homes tested for radon every 2 years as the EPA suggests."

Testing is simple: It takes anywhere from two to 90 days. The contractor simply comes to your home, sets up the radon detector, and comes back for the results.

The air is now clear at two East Boulevard condo buildings after a more than $1 million fix to deal with high levels of radon.

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Radon levels at Washougal City Hall force changes

Air quality testing at Washougal City Hall revealed high levels of radon gas throughout the building, prompting the mayor to relocate most employees to other city buildings.

Exposure to radon, a natural component in soil gases, can cause cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The average indoor radon level is 1.3 picoCuries of radiation per liter (pCi/L) of air, the EPA says.

Testing in Washougal City Hall earlier this month measured levels between 11 pCi/L and 26 pCi/L, with the highest concentration in a closed basement storage area, Mayor Sean Guard said in a news release. Findings were received Monday.

A level of 4 pCi/L should prompt action to lower the radon level, the EPA says. Guard said the EPA stopped short of calling City Hall unsafe but said it required immediate action.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Residents of the Condominiums at Latta Pavilion, 1320 Fillmore Ave. in Charlotte, have solved a challenging radon problem with the help of national experts and a $700,000 investment in a new ventilation system.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is found throughout the world. In many homes radon levels become elevated. Radon can be as carcinogenic as second-hand smoke if it is concentrated. The EPA recommends everyone test the radon levels in their home.

To meet an increasing need for radon mitigation of homes in Northeast Colorado, Colorado State University Extension has two scholarships available to become a certified radon mitigator.

Each scholarship covers the $595 cost of the mitigation course through the Center for Environmental Research and Technology Institute.

When course work and the certification test are completed, membership to the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists will be paid for the first year as part of the scholarship.

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas which is considered the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

During the past three years, CSU Extension has provided educational programs which include radon screening tests.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

High levels radon within Wicklow County Council's housing stock could see the council's finances spiralling out of control, as they face a bill of €1 million to bring the radon levels to an acceptable level.

Director of Services Michael Nicholson told members of the council on Monday that Wicklow has one of the highest levels of radon gas in the country.

He said the council currently had 2,200 houses on their books, 1,700 of them which had been built before 1998 when radon prevention measures came into place.

He said that to test each of these houses, at an average cost of €75 per house would cost €165,000. Any remedial works to houses affected would cost between €1,500 and €5,000 per house.

My daughter and son-in-law have put a contract on a home up in Lancaster County, Pa.

From the inspection they got a report that the radon level in the finished basement was on average 21.5pCi/L (picoCurries per liter of air). They are moving to the area from Massachusetts and need a house. They have a 4-year-old and a 10-month-old who will be playing in the finished basement. They are wondering if it's wise to buy this house, if radon mitigation systems work very well and what type of radon mitigation system would be the best. Would the house be difficult to resell if they bought it? Are you familiar with radon and radon mitigation systems? We have never talked about radon during the years I have attended your seminars at the senior center and I don't remember seeing any articles in The Capital.