KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Elevated Levels of Radon Found in Douglas County
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A new study finds 35% of homes tested in Minden and Gardnerville have high levels of radon. In fact, all of northern Nevada is at moderate to high risk for heavy amounts of radon.
Radon is a naturally occuring gas released when granite decomposes.
It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers killing 21,000 Americans each year. "It is a silent killer; radon is known as a silent killer because you can't see it, smell it or taste it," said Susan Roberts, head of the Nevada Radon Education Program.
Sue Donaldson has an office right next to Roberts' and decided to test her Reno home last year.
It found nearly twice the amount of radon allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency. "We had vents in our crawl space that we normally would close in the winter to keep the heat in the house and what that did was keep the radon in the house, right in the place where we were having the maximum exposure to it," said Donaldson.
Because it's such a serious problem, this is National Radon Awareness Month, in January because it's winter and you're less likely to have your windows open which allows the radon gas to accumulate.
The EPA estimates it costs the average homeowner about $1,200 to fix the problem.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Radon Education Program is conducting two free public meetings in Douglas County: Jan. 28, from 7-8pm at the Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department, 980 Sheridan Lane in Gardnerville and Jan. 29 from 7-8pm at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market St. in Stateline.
Free radon test kits can be obtained at both public meetings.
