Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that has been linked to lung cancer.  If you live in this part of the country, there is some risk of radon gas exposure.

Radon comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air. Radon can accumulate in enclosed structures like homes. It is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths
 

Is Radon a problem in Clark County?

In Indiana, close to 1 in 4 homes tested found elevated radon levels.  Counties in Indiana are ranked as having a low, moderate or high potential for radon.  Clark County is ranked as having the highest expected average radon levels.

What should I do?

All homes in Clark County should be tested for Radon.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Tests remain in a home for one to three days, depending on the device. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell the year-round average radon level. If results are needed quickly, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to decide whether to fix a home. Long-term tests remain in a home for more than 90 days. A long-term test will give a more accurate reading that is likely to be closer to the home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test.

Radon problems are not usually costly to fix.  In most cases, vent pipes and fans are used to lower the radon levels in a home.  A new home can be constructed to be "radon proof", and will add about $300-$500 to the cost of a newly constructed home.

If you have questions regarding radon, you can call the Indiana Radon Hotline at 1-800-272-9723

You may choose to contact a Indiana Certified Radon Tester and Mitigator to test your home.
 

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