LEXINGTON, Ky. — Radon is an odorless, invisible radioactive gas that is present in many Kentucky homes and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

There are efforts underway to raise public awareness about how to test for radon and what to do if there are high levels of it in your home.

What You Need To Know

  •  Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas that is released from rocks, soil and water

  •  The gas gets into homes and can cause lung cancer

  •  Dr. Ellen Hahn, a professor, says that it is an 'invisible enemy' and that Kentucky is a 'radon hotbed'

  • Hahn is trying to raise awareness about the importance of getting homes tested for the gas and then getting a mitigation system installed if there are high levels of radon

Dr. Ellen Hahn with BREATHE, an initiative from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing to promote lung health, has been involved with studies concerning radon and its presence in homes across the state. Her concerns about the gas have pushed her to advocate for people to get their homes tested. Less than 1% of Kentucky homes have been tested for radon, according to BREATHE.

“It’s really crucial that people get a test kit,” said Hahn. “Most of the time they’re free if you call your local health department or the state radon program.”

Hahn has been working with groups in different counties to educate those communities about radon and the importance of testing. Part of that is making those test kits more accessible. Steps have been taken to do that by having the test kits at libraries for people to check out.

While radon is an issue across the country, Hahn considers Kentucky to be a ‘radon hot-bed’.

It can get into homes and buildings through cracks and holes. Lexington-based business, Radon Delete, steps in to help with this issue.

“Central Kentucky is a zone-one radon area,” said Wilson Sebastian, the owner of Radon Delete. “That means that all indoor structures are expected to test over the EPA’s action-level for mitigation, which is 4.0 picocuries per liter for a 48-hour test.”

Sebastian’s team conducts those tests and if the home is at or above four picocuries per liter of radon gas, the EPA recommends the house should be mitigated, which is another service that Radon Delete offers.

“It’s very smart to take care of yourself, especially if you have the means to do it,” said Nathan Taylor, the business’ senior technician.

Having the means can be a barrier for some to install a mitigation system, which can cost up to thousands of dollars.

This is another area that Hahn’s team has tried to step in and help with. For people who have participated in the studies they have conducted, vouchers have been distributed to participants to help with some costs of getting a mitigation system installed. However, only 25% of those who receive those vouchers mitigate their homes, according to Hahn.

Once the system is installed, it is recommended that it be inspected every two years to ensure that it is still effective.

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