KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 24, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in U.S. homes, is especially dangerous because it is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. It can go undetected for years, placing the health of those living in Kansas and throughout the U.S. at significant risk. Governor Bill Graves has proclaimed October 20-26 as Kansas Radon Action Week in order to encourage people to take the steps needed to minimize that risk.
"Indoor radon may contribute to as many as 120 lung cancer deaths per year in Kansas, and chronic radon exposure is considered the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States," said Secretary of Health and Environment Clyde D. Graeber. "Exposure to radon can also compound the risk of lung cancer associated with smoking."
Radon seeps up from the earth's crust into the atmosphere. The gas becomes a health hazard when it becomes concentrated inside an occupied building such as a home, school, or business.
The only way to know a home's radon level is to test. A typical radon test kit costs about $15 and is simple to use. The kits collect radon gas from within a building and are sent to a lab for analysis. The results are then reported to the purchaser. A variety of kits are available through county extension offices and specialty suppliers. Testing companies may use electronic instruments to determine radon levels in buildings.
The higher the concentration within a home and the more time residents spend there, the greater their health risk. KDHE recommends that homeowners talk with a certified radon contractor if levels above 4 pCi/l are consistently detected.
"Approximately 37 percent of home tests completed in Kansas have exceeded the level set by EPA," stated Graeber.
If you have questions about radon, please contact the Kansas Radon Hotline at 1-800-693-5343 or the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON.