GREENSBORO, N.C. — Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after smoking, according to the CDC.
What You Need To Know
- January is Radon Action Month
- Radon is a clear and odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally
- Awareness for testing has increased but is still needed more frequently
- Testing set up takes around five minutes and sits in the home for two to five days
January is Radon Action Month, to help raise public awareness on radon. During January, North Carolina gave out 5,000 free radon test kits across the state.
Abe Mendez has been helping home owners and businesses test and mitigate for radon for 21 years.
“I was doing home inspections and as part of the home inspection process, I used to do radon testing. And when the levels came back elevated, clients would ask me, you know, what do I need to do next?” Mendez said.
He began researching the next steps in radon testing and then started doing it full time, running his business, The Radon Specialist.
“There’s been a lot of awareness from 20 years ago to now. Back in the beginning, the only way people find out about radon was through real estate transactions and buying and selling homes. And now you have a lot more concerned homeowners actually testing their homes and picking up radon kits or having a professional test for homes,” Mendez said.
The CDC says radon is an odorless, invisible, radioactive gas that is naturally released from soil, rocks and water.
Abe Mendez explaining to a client how the radon test works. (Spectrum News 1/ Sydney McCoy)
“Honestly, you don’t have any [warning signs]. Radon is odorless and colorless. So the only way to find out if you have elevated levels is to actually do a test. Worst-case scenario, radon does cause lung cancer. So if somebody is diagnosed with lung cancer and has never smoked before, and a lot of times the doctor will recommend they do a radon tests to see what the levels are in their home,” he said.
He owns the oldest radon testing business in the Triad, and said a test can be set up in the home within five minutes. With the test sitting in the home for an average of two to five days.
The state of North Carolina does not regulate or require certification of radon testing and encourages home or business owners to check certifications for who administers the test, which can often lead to false results.
“It’s important that whoever either does your your testing or your mitigation portion, that they’re actually certified,” Mendez said.
Another example of a small radon test. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)
Mendez says although the awareness of radon has increased through the years, the test is often only done during real estate transactions and encourages residents to test their homes.
“A lot of people aren’t aware of radon and that’s why we have you know January’s a national radon awareness month is to try to help the public become more aware of the harmful effects of radon in that radon is a carcinogen and it doesn’t attack the lungs as you breathe it in,” Mendez said.
Each home is unique, with some areas being more prone to radon, while others may not test positive when a neighbor’s home does.
The EPA says if you home has already tested high for radon and currently has a monitor, your home should be tested every two years. If your home has tested low, continue testing for radon every five years.
Mendez urges those, especially who have lived in a home for many years, to test for radon.