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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — It's odorless, colorless and tasteless. It kills more people than second hand smoke, drunken driving, drowning or home fires. It's radon, and it could be in your home.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas created by the decay of uranium, can seep into homes through foundation cracks, plumbing and utility openings. Once trapped in a home, it can accumulate to harmful levels and cause lung cancer.
Since 2003, 166 homes in Incline Village and nine homes in Crystal Bay have been tested for radon, according to records reported to the Nevada Radon Education Program. Of those, 30 percent of the Incline homes and 44 of the Crystal Bay homes showed elevated radon levels. About 26 percent of homes tested statewide (4,990) showed elevated levels.
Incline Village and Crystal Bay's higher levels may be due to the area's mountainous and granitic nature, said Susan Roberts, program director of the Nevada Radon Education Program.
“It makes it very important to make sure that your family is safe and that your house does not have elevated radon levels,” Roberts said.
Individuals can test for radon by obtaining a test kit from the Nevada Radon Education Program. While the test kits have been offered for free, beginning July 1 kits in northern, central and western Nevada will sell for $5.
“We gave out so many kits in January and February — almost three times our budget,” said Roberts, explaining the new charge.
The program may consider giving away tests in January at its events.
The short-term test involves setting out a device for two days and then mailing it in for test results. If the short-term test reveals elevated radon levels, it's suggested that the homeowner do another test to confirm the results. The type of test depends upon the initial result.
If the radon level is greater than 8 pCi/l (picocuries per liter), Roberts recommends a second short-term test to confirm the initial results.
“We are talking about a health risk, so any amount of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer over a long period of time,” Roberts said.
Long-term radon test kits are available for $15 from the radon program.
“Testing a home with a long-term test kit is much easier than testing a home for a few days,” Roberts said. “With a long-term test, you can live your life normally, having windows and doors open and running air conditioners and evaporative coolers like normal.”
A yearlong test is an alpha track detector which measures radon levels by reading alpha particle strikes on a piece of plastic. This type of device is not as sensitive to other environmental factors.
If the yearlong test confirms elevated radon levels, homeowners are urged to have the problem addressed by a certified radon professional. Radon solutions can cost from $500 to $5,000.
A list of certified radon mitigators is available on the UNCE web site, www.unce.unr.edu/radon, or at Cooperative Extension offices across the state.
For more information on how to purchase a radon test kit, go to the Nevada Radon Education Program Web site, www.unce.unr.edu/radon, to locate the nearest UNCE office, or call University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (888) RADON10 (888-723-6610).
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas created by the decay of uranium, can seep into homes through foundation cracks, plumbing and utility openings. Once trapped in a home, it can accumulate to harmful levels and cause lung cancer.
Since 2003, 166 homes in Incline Village and nine homes in Crystal Bay have been tested for radon, according to records reported to the Nevada Radon Education Program. Of those, 30 percent of the Incline homes and 44 of the Crystal Bay homes showed elevated radon levels. About 26 percent of homes tested statewide (4,990) showed elevated levels.
Incline Village and Crystal Bay's higher levels may be due to the area's mountainous and granitic nature, said Susan Roberts, program director of the Nevada Radon Education Program.
“It makes it very important to make sure that your family is safe and that your house does not have elevated radon levels,” Roberts said.
Individuals can test for radon by obtaining a test kit from the Nevada Radon Education Program. While the test kits have been offered for free, beginning July 1 kits in northern, central and western Nevada will sell for $5.
“We gave out so many kits in January and February — almost three times our budget,” said Roberts, explaining the new charge.
The program may consider giving away tests in January at its events.
The short-term test involves setting out a device for two days and then mailing it in for test results. If the short-term test reveals elevated radon levels, it's suggested that the homeowner do another test to confirm the results. The type of test depends upon the initial result.
If the radon level is greater than 8 pCi/l (picocuries per liter), Roberts recommends a second short-term test to confirm the initial results.
“We are talking about a health risk, so any amount of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer over a long period of time,” Roberts said.
Long-term radon test kits are available for $15 from the radon program.
“Testing a home with a long-term test kit is much easier than testing a home for a few days,” Roberts said. “With a long-term test, you can live your life normally, having windows and doors open and running air conditioners and evaporative coolers like normal.”
A yearlong test is an alpha track detector which measures radon levels by reading alpha particle strikes on a piece of plastic. This type of device is not as sensitive to other environmental factors.
If the yearlong test confirms elevated radon levels, homeowners are urged to have the problem addressed by a certified radon professional. Radon solutions can cost from $500 to $5,000.
A list of certified radon mitigators is available on the UNCE web site, www.unce.unr.edu/radon, or at Cooperative Extension offices across the state.
For more information on how to purchase a radon test kit, go to the Nevada Radon Education Program Web site, www.unce.unr.edu/radon, to locate the nearest UNCE office, or call University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (888) RADON10 (888-723-6610).
Radon by the numbers
166 Incline homes tested for radon
30 percent of tested Incline homes showed elevated levels 9 Crystal Bay homes tested for radon 44 percent of tested Crystal Bay homes with elevated levels 4,990 Nevada homes tested for radon 26 percent of tested Nevada homes showed elevated levels. Source: Records reported to the Nevada Radon Education Program, as of 2006. Read more: For more news about radon, read the following story, published Wednesday, March 4, at tahoebonanza.com/radon08. |
