RADON

To prevent the risk of lung cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Office of the Surgeon General recommend that the lowest occupied level of the home be tested for radon. Because radon is odorless and invisible, testing is the only way to determine if a home has high levels of radon. The EPA recommends installing radon mitigation systems if high radon levels are present. There are straight-forward reduction techniques for accomplishing this in most any home. Most homes will not have a radon problem, but a simple test will tell you if your home does.

Testing your home for radon is easy and inexpensive. Obtain a test kit from one of the following:

• University of Georgia – Extension Housing and Environment Programs

• Call your local County Extension Service and ask for the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent; they can provide a free test kit and instructions on how to complete the test. 

• Inside Atlanta: pick up a free radon test kits from the Southface office, located at 241 Pine St. NE in downtown Atlanta.

• Outside Atlanta: pick up low cost radon test kits at these Cooperative Extension Services locations.