Three Rivers Public Health Department To Offer Radon Kits for $1
publish date: Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Three Rivers Public Health Department is once again kicking off National Radon Awareness Month by offering at home radon testing kits. The testing kits will be available for $1 as part of a campaign to educate local residents about the dangers of exposure to radon. The campaign will encourage homeowners to protect themselves from the harmful effects of radon by identifying and fixing radon problems in their homes.
According to Executive Director, Terra Uhing, “Radon is colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas resulting from the decay of uranium deposits in the soil” she said.
Radon is harmless when it’s dispersed in the air outdoors. However, it can be harmful when it enters a building and accumulates. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General estimate that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused by radon each year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Figures for the Three Rivers Public Health Department’s district 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. Indicating a great need for residents to test their homes.
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 cost effective, 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, most radon problems can be fixed by a do-it-yourselfer for less than $500. If you want professional assistance there are certified radon mitigators in Nebraska”.
To receive an at home radon testing kit for only $1 residents can pick up a kit at Three Rivers Public Health Department located at 2400 N. Lincoln Avenue, in Fremont, NE 68025; If you have any questions please call 402-727-5396 or email
[email protected].