Four Corners Press Release
January is National Radon Action Month, a time to take action to make sure your home is safe from radon. You can’t see or smell radon gas. It naturally forms when uranium in soil and rocks breaks down and can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, as well as around windows, pipes, and joints.
If left unaddressed, radon can build up inside your home and cause serious health risk. Being exposed to radon long-term is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the leading cause among non-smokers. The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test for it.
Testing is Easy and Available
Testing your home for radon is simple, low cost, and can save lives. Free short-term radon test kits can be found in each county within the Four Corners Health District:
- Butler County: Butler County Health and Butler County UNL Extension in David City
- Polk County: Polk County Health Department in Stromsburg
- Seward County: Seward County UNL Extension Office in Seward
- York County: Four Corners Health Department in York
These test kits are available year-round. It is best to test your home in the winter, when your doors and windows are closed most often. Low cost test kits can be purchased online and at most home improvement or hardware stores. Licensed radon professionals can be hired to test your home.
Radon Levels in the Four Corners District
High radon levels have been found in every county in the Four Corners Health District. The EPA recommends taking action to mitigate radon levels if they are above four picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If elevated radon levels are detected, a qualified professional can install a mitigation system to lessen radon levels in your home, making a safer space for you and your loved ones.
Many people don’t know about radon and the risks it poses. National Radon Action Month is the perfect time to test your home and protect your family. Tens of millions of homes across the country have already been tested, and millions of homes with high radon levels have been fixed.
For guidance on radon risks and how to fix it, visit the EPA’s radon website at https://www.epa.gov/radon. Learn more about radon, data on radon levels, and licensed measurement or mitigation businesses through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services at https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/radon.aspx.
Take action this January. Test your home. Fix any problems. Save a life.
