Time to check home for radon

FLORENCE -- Pat Smith worries that many Shoals residents go to sleep every night with a killer lurking about.

Smith, a regional agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said many residents are unaware their homes have dangerous levels of radon gas.

January is National Radon Action Month, and before the month ends, Smith wants residents to be aware of the health risks of the naturally occurring odorless, colorless gas that is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium.

"It's very simple -- radon kills," she said. "Thousands of people die in the United States every year from exposure to radon," Smith said.

Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin and Lawrence counties are high-risk areas for radon exposure in homes.

Smith said cracks in the limestone bedrock in the area allow radon from deep within the earth to escape to the surface. Cracks in the foundations and floors of homes can allow the deadly gas to enter the building, where it becomes trapped.

The only way to know if radon levels inside a home pose a health risk is to have the building tested.

Radon test kits are available at area extension system offices for $5. Similar kits are available at many home improvement stores and other retailers. Home inspection services also can test for radon.

Ed Dixon, of Home Inspection LLC in Muscle Shoals, has found high levels of radon in several Shoals area homes.

He said all homes in the area have some level of radon. Only those with concentrations of four picocuries per liter of air are considered a health risk, he said.

When high levels of radon are found in a home, ventilation systems can be installed to remove the deadly gas. Smith said the systems typically cost $800 to $2,500. Installing the ventilation system as the home is being built costs $300 to $500.

Some cities, including Muscle Shoals, require all new homes be radon resistant. Smith would like to see other cities adopt similar ordinances.

She said radon is not just a problem for older homes. She has seen several new homes with high radon levels. She said everyone who lives in the Tennessee Valley should have their home tested for radon.

Brent Olive, of Florence, was relieved when a radon test of his home showed that while the radioactive gas is present, it was below the danger level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some homes in his neighborhood have high levels of radon.

"It gave me peace of mind to know it was not above the danger level. I'm going to continue monitoring my home at different times of the year to make sure the radon level remains low," he said.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.