Three Rivers Public Health Department To Offer Radon Kits
publish date: Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Three Rivers Public Health Department is joining forces with federal and state agencies in a major campaign to educate local residents about the dangers of exposure to radon. The initiative will encourage homeowners to protect themselves from the health effects of radon by identifying and fixing radon problems in their homes.
According to Executive Director, Terra Uhing, “Radon is a radioactive gas that is a by-product resulting from the decay of uranium deposits in the soil” she said. “It gives off radioactive particles as part of the natural ‘decay’ process.”
Radon is harmless when it’s dispersed in the air outdoors. However, it can be harmful when it enters a building and accumulates. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has said radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The NAS estimates that radon causes around 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Figures released recently by Three Rivers Public Health Department’s Radon Program indicate that the average radon level in homes in Dodge County is 6.9 pCi/L, Saunders county is 7.6 pCi/L and Washington County is 7.4 (pCi/L). The recommended safety threshold set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for radon in homes is 4 pCi/L or less.
The only way to know for sure if a home has elevated radon levels is by testing. Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is free, simple, and confidential. The test kits are simply placed in an appropriate spot in the home for 3-7 days. Detailed instructions will accompany each kit. At the end of the testing period, the kits are mailed to a laboratory for analysis. The results will be mailed directly to the homeowner, usually within two weeks.
Uhing said, “If elevated radon levels are discovered, they can be fixed and that repairs range from anywhere from $1, 250 to about $2,500”.
To participate in the free testing program, residents can pick up a kit at Three Rivers Public Health Department locations at: 2400 N Lincoln Avenue, in Fremont, NE 68025; or at 739 W 10th Street, in Wahoo, NE 68066. If you have any questions please call 402-727-5396 (Fremont) or 402-443-4603 (Wahoo) or email [email protected].
View PDF Version.