1/6/2021 - Test your home for radon during "Radon Action Month" with a free radon test kit.

Knox Public Health (KPH) reminds residents to test their homes for radon – it’s easy, inexpensive and could prevent you and your family from the dangerous health risks associated with high levels of radon.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. If you are an Ohio homeowner, you can receive a FREE radon test kit through the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) by visiting their website’s Radon page or knoxhealth.com.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste. Because radon is a gas, it can easily drift upward through the ground to the Earth’s surface – and could enter the lowest level of a building. Exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.

Though harmful, radon is relatively easy to control. Testing is the only way to find out if radon is in your home. ODH estimates that one-half of Ohio homes have radon levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended action level of 4 picoCuries/liter (4 pCi/l) of air. In fact, Knox County has the highest average household levels of radon in the state. Homes in Knox County have radon levels averaging 22.3 pCi/l of air according to test results reported by ODH in 2020.

To request a free radon testing kit from ODH's Radon Program, you can visit knoxhealth.com and have one sent right to your home. By following the easy prompts, registration is completed online and your test kit is delivered in the mail. Alternatively, you may purchase a low-cost ($10 to $25) radon test kit from a local home improvement store.

If high levels of radon are found after testing, you can fix the situation by finding a qualified radon service professional to install a mitigation system. A quality radon mitigation system is often able to reduce the annual average radon level to below 2 picoCuries per Liter (2pCi/L) of air. The Ohio Department of Health offers a list of state licensed radon contractors. Find the search tool for local radon contractors at KPH’s website.

Protect your health and test your home for radon. Find more information about radon by contacting Knox Public Health’s certified radon testers, Terri Hillier and Kyle Shackle, and order your free radon test kit at knoxhealth.com or from the Ohio Department of Health.

Website for free testing kit (same link used by KPH and ODH): https://secure.airchek.com/cgi-bin/ohio-2020.cgi