UGA Cooperative Extension

Barrow County Extension Office:
Family & Consumer Sciences

farm tour

Radon Facts

Although cigarette smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, an often overlooked carcinogen is radon, a naturally occurring odorless radioactive gas. Radon is released from the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock and can easily enter our homes through the foundations and well water. TheU.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, reports that indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States with an estimated 21,000 deaths annually. More Americans die from radon each year that from drunken drivers.

Get the Facts on Radon at Radon fast facts

Georgia Radon Education Program

The Radon Education Program of the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Family and Consumer Sciences began promoting radon awareness in 2003. Radon gas, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, kills approximately 600 Georgians per year. Radon education programs are held to teach consumers about radon, and how to test, diagnose, and correct home radon problems. From March 2003 to November 2005, UGA has conducted over 600 formal and informal programs with 28,408 face-to-face contacts; conducted 122 exhibits, with 45,748 face-to-face contacts; distributed 15,972 radon test kits; made 102,384,441 media impressions; and participated in the National Radon Poster Test Contest.

The UGA education outreach program focuses on homeowners, children, and caregivers; citing that home exposure is the most significant source of radon exposure and children are more susceptible to the effects of radon due to body size and breathing level. UGA research indicates that in Georgia, approximately 1 in 5 returned test kits show elevated radon levels; the national average is one in 15. The program has been successful in increasing adoption rates of radon-resistant building and reducing health care costs and radon-induced lung cancer risk for 125 households who mitigated as a result of the program.

A partnership funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency among the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Extension Service, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and Southface Energy Institute to educate Georgians on actions to take to protect themselves from the risk of developing lung cancer caused by the unwelcome entry of radon gas in our homes.

Radon Testing

Testing your home for radon is easy. Obtain a complimentary radon test kit by participating in the University of Georgia’s Radon Education Program. Call the Barrow County Extension Office 770-307-3029 for a free kit or for more information call the Walton County Cooperative Extension Office @ 770-256-1324 and ask for Radon Educator, Becky Chenhall or email, chenhall@uga.edu

Test Kit Instructions

Retesting

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service will provide you with one free test kit. If after completing this test your Radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L, then we recommend you retest your home again (ask the UGA Radon Educator how to do this) to verify the Radon risk level. You can purchase a second test at a discounted price using the UGA discount coupon provided by Air Check, Inc.

Air Check
Phone: (828) 684-0893

Test kits may be purchased over the phone or on the web at http://www.radon.com.

Radon Publications

Radon Resistant New Construction Program

The mission of this program is to create awareness of radon and to reduce concentrations or prevent buildup in the home. Typical radon resistant features are:

Passive Stack Sub-Slab/Sub-Membrane Depressurization
Active Sub-Slab/Sub-Membrane Depressurization
Rough-in for Sub-Slab Depressurization

Training for builders is available from Southface Energy Institute.

When Building a New Home

Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings

Housing and Radon Mitigators

If your radon tests are higher than 4pCi/L you should consider taking action immediately and reducing the dangerous Radon level in your home.
For a list of Certified Radon Mitigators go to: http://radongas.org.
For Measurement and Mitigation Training, contact the Southern Regional Radon Training Center: 1-800-626-2703.