During the month of January, the Environmental Health Department urges all county residents to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste but can be present in your home.
High levels of radon gas in homes usually come from the surrounding soil. Radon gas will enter homes through cracks or openings –such as sump pump lids and plumbing features-on the lower levels of your home. Hot spots include basements, first-floor rooms, and garages, but radon gas can be found anywhere in your house.
Breathing high levels of radon gas can put you at risk for lung cancer. The EPA considers the entire state of Iowa at high risk for radon gas in homes.
To see if your house has dangerous levels of radon, you can test for it. The Health Department offers a simple radon test kit at cost ($5.00) for county residents. Please contact the Health Department for a test kit or further information.
Links of interest:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/Radon/
http://www.lung.org/about-us/our-impact/top-stories/radon-stopping-the-silent-killer.html
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