Citizens urged to test homes for radon
January 03, 2025
Launch the media gallery 1 playerDo you know if the air inside your home is clean, healthy indoor air? Do you know if you and your family may be exposed to radon? If you haven’t tested your home for radon, consider adding this to your resolution list, it’s a healthy choice that can help reduce your risk of lung cancer.
January is Radon Action Month. South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) joins the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recommend testing your home for radon. Winter months are a good time to test, because more of this toxic gas can become trapped inside when homes are closed up tight for winter.
What is radon? The American Cancer Society describes radon as “a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas.” You can’t see it, smell it or taste it. Radon forms naturally from the decay (breaking down) of radioactive elements, such as uranium, in the ground. Radon gas can be present in closed spaces, like basements. It enters buildings and homes from the soil beneath through cracks and holes in the foundation. Unless you test for radon in your home, there is no way to know how much radon exists in the air you are breathing.
Is radon present in Nebraska? Yes. Statewide, the results of more than half of radon tests are above the ‘action level’. Radon levels are high in much of the southern and eastern regions of our state, including in south central Nebraska.
In 2024, approximately 60% of radon test results in the SHDHD service area (Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties) had radon levels above the EPA ‘action level’ of 4 picocuries per liter. The health district’s highest result reported in 2024 was 16.9. In previous years, some homes in our four counties have tested much higher, as much 100 picocuries per liter.
Any residents whose test results are over 4 picocuries/liter are at risk and should consider taking further steps to protect their health by assessing and reducing radon levels in their homes.
What’s the big deal? Exposure to radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer for people who have never smoked. The EPA estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Over time, exposure to radon can cause lung cancer. Cancer caused by radon usually occurs a long time (5-25 years) after exposure.
How do I find out if I have a radon problem in my home? Using a short-term test kit is an easy and inexpensive way to obtain initial results. Follow the instructions on the kit to determine how many days to leave it in place; short-term kits can require from 2-7 days for testing.
South Heartland District Health Department is distributing short-term test kits for $8.00 from our offices at 606 N. Minnesota in Hastings. SHDHD’s radon testing kits are also available for purchase at the Nebraska Extension offices in Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties, at the Library in Superior, and at the Clay County Health Department in Clay Center.
Can I test for radon during a real estate transaction? Requesting testing during a real estate transaction will allow buyers to know if the home they are interested in purchasing has elevated radon. Although not required by law, the home seller can test for radon before putting the house on the market to ensure that it has safe levels to attract potential buyers. The buyer can request a radon test during the home inspection period. If high levels of radon are present, mitigating it can be handled during the home sale, similar to other required home repairs.
Where can I find more information?
For links to more information on radon, radon testing, local radon test results and radon reduction methods, please visit the South Heartland District Health Department website at www.southheartlandhealth.ne.gov or call 402-462-6211 or 1-877-238-7595.
Michele Bever, PhD, MPH, is the executive director for South Heartland District Health Department, serving Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster Counties in Nebraska. She may be reached at 402-462-6211 or toll free at 877-238-7595.