According to the EPA, radon is responsible for thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. During the month of January, Montgomery County joined a nationwide effort to educate homeowners and renters on the dangers of radon gas and the importance of testing every home. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and other officials recognized January as Radon Action Month before the county council on Jan. 14. Radon Action Month focuses on the steps everyone can take to help ensure their home is radon free.
The most important step to protecting your home is to test for radon. “Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas, so unless you perform a radon test, you will not know if your home is at risk,” said DEP Director Adam Ortiz. “During January, our hope is that each person will test their home and then tell neighbors to do the same.”
Radon testing devices can be purchased at local home improvement stores, online or directly from radon testing companies. Many are priced under $25 and can provide short-term or long-term readings. The readings are provided in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If your test results come back as 4 pCi/L or higher, then you should consult a qualified radon mitigation contractor by visiting the DEP radon website at montgomerycountymd.gov/radon.
Councilmember Craig Rice, the lead sponsor of the County law requiring a radon test said. “Due to the geology beneath us, Montgomery County is prone to higher levels of radon.” Montgomery County has high levels of radon in its soil. The county is designated a Zone 1 area by the EPA, which means it has the highest potential indoor radon levels. Zone 3 areas have the lowest potential.
Councilmember Rice also stressed “Radon is a silent killer and our residents need to know about potential dangers in their homes so they can make smart decisions to protect their families. Being informed about radon starts by picking up, and using a testing device.”
High radon levels can be counteracted through radon reduction systems. There are also systems that prevent radon from entering a home in the first place, like soil suction, which takes radon from below homes and ventilates it into open air where it is diluted.
Article by Dhruv Pai of Montgomery Blair High School
Image courtesy of Creative Commons