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Three Counties Ranked By Radon Levels

Posted on: Monday, 13 February 2006, 18:00 CST

By William K. Alcorn, Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio

Feb. 13--AUSTINTOWN -- Average indoor radon levels in Trumbull and Mahoning counties are lower than in most of Ohio's 88 counties, ranking 84th and 77th, respectively.

However, levels of the cancer-causing gas in Columbiana County are higher, placing it 34th among Ohio counties.

Despite the good news, especially for Trumbull and Mahoning counties, individual testing remains important because radon levels can vary widely from one home to another in the same area, said Matthew A. Stefanak, Mahoning County health commissioner.

Radon levels in several ZIP code areas in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties are listed in the information box that accompanies this story. Detailed information for all ZIP code areas in the counties can be accessed on the Internet by going to the Ohio Radon Information System of the University of Toledo.

Stefanak said his department is offering a limited number of free radon testing kits, on a first-come, first-served basis, at the Mahoning County District Board of Health at 50 Westchester Drive. He recommended that people call (330) 270-2855 to make sure that kits are still available before going there.

Radon gas, which is produced by the radioactive decay of uranium in the soil, can seep into a house through dirt floors, cracks in concrete floors and walls, floor drains, sumps, joints, and tiny cracks or pores in hollow-block walls. The gas can also enter water in private wells and be released into a home when the water is used, officials said.

Using the test kits, which are to be placed in the lowest livable level of the home, is easy, Stefanak said. The kits contain detailed instructions about placement, the information required, and where to send them when the collection is complete. The kits collect a record of the radon particles, which are measured in pico curies per liter, in the air.

Stefanak emphasized that the results are confidential. The government does not receive the information, and there is no enforced mitigation.

Homeowners can also have radon testing done by professional testers who are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health, Stefanak said.

The U.S. EPA said that radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the nation, after cigarette smoking. Radon may cause between 7,000 and 30,000 deaths each year in the United States, making it the environmental toxin responsible for more cancer deaths than pesticides, hazardous waste and air pollutants combined, according to the U.S. EPA.

Fixing a home with risky radon levels may be as simple as painting, filling in cracks in basement walls or floor, or covering sump pumps and drains. Fixing the problem could also involve installing a fan under the concrete basement floor or slab on which the house sits, to blow the radon outside.

The cost of eliminating radon should be about the same as normal construction, Stefanak said.

The U.S. EPA does not recommend any action for radon levels that are below 2 pico curies. However, the EPA says if the radon gas level is 2 to 4 pico curies, a homeowner should "consider" fixing or mediating the problem. If the level is 4 pico curies or above, the EPA recommendation is to "fix" the home.

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To see more of the Vindicator, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.vindy.com.

Copyright (c) 2006, Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Vindicator

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