COLUMBIA, S.C. — January is National Radon Action Month and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is encouraging home owners to test their homes to protect themselves from the risk of lung cancer.
"It is the second leading cause of lung cancer right behind smoking,” Olivia Burgher said.
Burgher is the Radon Program Coordinator at the SCDHEC.
"There is no way to find out if you have radon gas other than by testing. you can have two homes in the same neighborhood and one home could have very different radon levels than the other home,” she said.
Health experts say you might be exposing yourself to a harmful gas without even knowing it.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water and might enter a home through any cracks or holes in the foundation.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency nearly one out of 15 homes are estimated to have a high radon level. Burger said it can be a concern because it is a radioactive gas which can cause lung cancer."
Evan Williams is a local home inspector, who said there are ways to reduce the level of radon in a home.
“The way to fix high radon levels in your home is usually to increase circulation. so when they do this testing it’s going to tell them to put it in an area that has a lower air flow," Williams said. "You don’t want to put it right by a door where the door is always opening and closing. you don’t want to put it underneath of a vent because if you’ve got great circulation and everything’s blowing past it you’re going to get a false negative."
Williams said basements are usually areas that come back positive for radon because they are closer to the ground.
“Luckily in the Midlands, especially in the Columbia area, the levels have been really low in fact all the tests that I've done I've never come up with a high result,” he said.
If you are looking to test your home you can buy a test. have an inspector come to your home, or visit the SC DHEC website for a free test kit.
“South Carolina DHEC offers a short term test kit per address every three years. so if you are a resident in SC you can go onto our website and there will be a big button where you can request a free test kit and then you’ll just go fill out a couple simples questions,” Burgher said.