Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department wants you to
keep your family safe from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Radon is a radioactive gas in the soil that can leak into homes. It cannot be
seen, tasted, or smelled. So the lower the radon level, the better. Testing for
radon is the first step for home owners to find out if the radon levels in
their homes are safe.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests
taking action when the radon levels in your home get higher than 4.0 pCi/L. In
Nebraska, almost 6 out of every 10 homes have levels higher than 4.0 pCi/L and
most homes in Nebraska have radon levels at 6.0 pCi/L or above. Elkhorn Logan
Valley Public Health Department serves Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton
Counties where the average radon level in the past has been at 7.5 pCi/L or
higher.
About five years ago, Roger Foster of Madison remembers
picking up a radon test kit for his home after a neighbor’s basement had tested
high for radon. Sure enough, Roger’s radon levels were also high. Roger decided
to be safe and have a professional put in a unit to lower his radon level.
These radon mitigation units are set up in the lowest level of the home, and
pump radon safely outside. When asked about the process of installing the
system, Roger said that it was clear-cut and “one afternoon was all it took.”
Years after installing the system, Roger re-tested his home
for radon. This time, the results came back clean, almost as low as normal
outside levels. His unit is working, and he can breathe easy.
To learn more about radon or how to get a radon test kit,
call Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department at 402.529.2233 or visit our
website at www.elvphd.org.