January is Radon Awareness Month
Protect Your Home from a Silent Threat

The cost of heating a home is expected to be higher than ever this winter, so this is a good time to batten down the hatches by caulking, sealing and weather-stripping every cold air entry point.  But homeowners beware: the quick fix could create a more serious set of problems, because the better you are at sealing cold air out, the more likely you are to keep potentially harmful gases like radon sealed in.

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas.  In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer; tobacco smoke is the first.  You cannot see, smell or taste radon.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Typically the air pressure inside your home is lower than the pressure in the soil around your home's foundation. Due to this difference, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon gas in through foundation cracks and other openings of your home. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. The release of this radioactive gas enters the air you breathe, causing a potential health risk to you and your family.

Testing is the only way to know if your home contains radon gas.  If radon is detected, the problem can be fixed.  The cost of repair is generally comparable to most other home repairs. 

FREE radon test kits are available at the Anderson County Health Department, 1180 Glensboro Road.  For more information visit us online at www.achdonline.org, or contact April Thomas at 839-4551 ext. 1110 or april.thomas@ky.gov.