SCDHEC’s South Carolina Radon Program encourages South Carolinians to learn about the dangers of radon and provides a free home radon test kit, which can be requested at www.scdhec.gov/radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, tasteless gas that is diffused in the air, but when trapped inside a building, it can reach dangerous levels.
Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and can get into homes through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon can occur in any home, and testing is the only way to find out if your house is radon-free.
“Elevated levels of radon have been found in homes in almost every county of South Carolina. Two homes right next to each other can have different radon levels,” Rhonda Thompson, Head of the Bureau of Air Quality, said. “The only way to know if a home has high radon levels is to test.”
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause among non-smokers.
Radon test kits are also available for $15 from the National Radon Program (www.sosradon.org, 1-800-767-7236).
To learn more about radon, go to www.scdhec.gov/radon, send an email to [email protected], or call 1-800-768-0362.
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