What's hiding in your basement?

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. It doesn’t have any odor or taste.  It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Radon can be found in any building including your home, workplace, daycare, and school. It gets in through cracks, gaps around service pipes, cavities inside walls, gaps between floors, and other holes in the foundation and becomes trapped inside. Your greatest risk of radon exposure is your home because that is where you spend the most time. Any home could have the presence of radon including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Radon tends to be a little more prevalent in western New York (because of the type of rock in that region), however here in Clinton County we are still at moderate risk.

The good news is you can find out if you have radon by testing for it. Radon is colorless and odorless

like carbon monoxide. Testing is the only way to tell if you have radon present in your home. By testing for radon, you will know if you have a build up from over time which can

Radon Test Kit

cause lung cancer. 

So why do we care now? Radon builds up in our buildings and homes as we close things up for the winter to keep the heat in. While we’re keeping the heat in we’re also keeping the radon in. Add in less ventilation and you’ve got a recipe for radon. Keeping our windows and cellars sealed tight from November through March makes it prime time to do radon testing. 

Even if you have tested for radon in the past, you should test for radon every five years. Tests take only a few minutes to set up and complete. If you do not want test yourself, The Healthy Neighborhoods Program in Clinton County can help by setting up radon tests for Clinton County residents free of charge.

How can I get a free radon test kit? Contact the Clinton County Healthy Neighborhoods Program at 518-565-4870 to schedule a home visit. Radon is just one area of indoor air quality and home safety that the Healthy Neighborhoods Program addresses. Free radon test kits and other home safety products are available based upon your household’s needs. For more information about this free service, check out our website www.clintonhealth.org/healthyneighborhoods.

 

Maryann Barto

Public Health Educator

Healthy Neighborhoods Program

Environmental Health & Safety Division