Printed: January 29, 2004, Clay Times-Journal  

Marsha Moorehead shows map of radon areas in Clay County.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is aligned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a major awareness campaign during January, National Radon Action Month. This campaign will educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and encourage them to take action to protect themselves from adverse effects of radon. It is a health hazard that is present in elevated levels in about 14 percent of some 500 Clay County homes that have been tested.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in a building can be harmful at elevated levels. Scientific evidence supports that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. It is reported that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.

Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. And, if discovered, radon problems can be fixed. Radon kits that meet EPA guidelines are available at the Clay County Extension Office for $5.00 or online at www.aces.edu/radon. Information on how to purchase a radon detector is also available from the state radon office by calling 1-800-582-1866. Radon problems can be fixed by trained mitigators.

The Clay County Extension Office urges Clay County residents to take action during this year's National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for elevated levels of radon. It is a serious public health hazard with a straightforward solution. For more information on radon, radon testing, and radon mitigation, call the Clay County Extension Office at 354-5976.