Radon kills 20,000 people a year
GAYLORD, MI -- This week the national government is warning you about a silent killer that could be lurking in your home.
It's a deadly gas that kills more people each year in the United States than drunk driving.
It's invisible, odorless, and tasteless.
The only way people will know if it's in their home is by testing for it.
And that's exactly what the Environmental Protection Agency and local Health Departments are encouraging.
In this home, on Kussaba Road, just outside of Gaylord, it's a little scary to think about what has lingered inside, especially when there's no way of knowing it was even there.
“We feel very comfortable, and I'm much relieved that it's corrected," said homeowner Judi Burns.
Six years ago, an ad in the newspaper had Judi Burns’s first question if Radon was in her home. She bought a test and results came back. In her basement, the reading was higher than normal. She didn't think much of it. Four years later, she saw another ad claiming Radon could have some serious health risks, so she checked it out again. Levels had reached more than 25 picocuries per liter, when the recommended level is four.
“My husband said don't worry about it, we're older people, it's not going to affect us, it may be a cause of lung cancer, but I don't think at our age, we have to worry. But however, I do worry for the future owners of this house and our grandchildren who spend a lot of time with us and play in the lower levels of our home," said Burns.
She decided it was time to have something done. A year and a half ago, she had a company come in and install this system to correct the Radon problem in her home. This is a fan, which helps suck gases from below the house and release them in the air. Levels have been back to normal in the Burns household. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung-cancer in the United States, as estimates show it causes 20,000 deaths a year. It occurs naturally, seeps into your home, and as it collects, it can cause problems.
“It's peace of mind, it truly is, it was always in the back of my mind," she said. “I always recommend it whenever the subject comes up."
According to public health officials, elevated levels of Radon were found in 21 percent of the homes tested.
And this being National Radon Action Week, the same officials encourage you to have your home tested.
