CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 01/03/19

Resolve to test your home for radon this January

By Merritt Melancon

Not many people think about the dangers of radon, but the radioactive element causes over 800 deaths a year in Georgia.

Radon occurs naturally in Georgia’s granite bedrock and can leach into homes without warning. This presents a hidden danger, as radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Radon Educator Derek Cooper is working to shine a light on this invisible hazard with the university’s Georgia Radon Program. January — National Radon Action Month —  is a great time for Georgians to take steps to protect their families against the threat. 

“Families have a lot to think about, and I know radon isn’t always at the top of the list,” Cooper said. “The beginning of the year is a good time to take a moment to make sure your family’s home is safe. Testing for radon can save a life, and it’s quick and easy.”

UGA Extension offers a low-cost service for those who need to test their home for radon and can provide resources for those who find high levels of the gas in their home.

There are ways of removing radon from a home, but homeowners won’t know to take action unless they test, Cooper said.

What is radon and where does it come from?

Radon gas is essentially broken-down uranium that is present in Georgia’s granite bedrock. It can seep into homes through their foundations or through well water. It is odorless, tasteless, colorless and virtually undetectable without a test. The gas can collect in homes during the winter months when weatherproofing seals air indoors, but it’s a threat year-round.

Homes of all ages and sizes are vulnerable to radon, but risk varies depending on the area of the state. Homes in the northern half of the state, for instance, are at greater risk of having elevated radon levels due to higher amounts of granite bedrock in that region. About 46.6 percent of homes tested in Haralson County had elevated radon levels — the highest rates in the state. 

In addition to Haralson, Barrow, Butts, Douglas, Fannin, Gilmer, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Union and Walton counties are the counties with the highest percentage of elevated radon levels in the state, according to tests conducted through UGA Extension.

To learn more about household radon and to order a $13 radon test visit www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/home-radon or contact a local UGA Extension Office at 1-800-Ask-UGA1. During January, Georgians can get a discount of $3 off the $13 price of test kit when they enter the code NRAM2019.

Merritt Melancon, a public relations manager for the UGA Terry College of Business, previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Pamela R. Turner
The second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., radon is an odorless, invisible, tasteless radioactive gas released by the natural decay of uranium in our soils and rocks. UGA Extension offers a low-cost service for those who need to test their home for radon.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Manage holiday stress with kindness, boundaries 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
UGA Extension offers mindfulness and skills training to help the incarcerated reclaim their hope. CAES News
UGA Extension offers training to help the incarcerated reclaim their hope 09/30/24 Cal Powell
A train rumbles through the heart of downtown Tennille, Georgia. The southbound train cars are loaded with kaolin, the white clay that serves as the city’s main export. Avery Franklin sets his leaf blower on the ground, takes a seat on a park bench under a pecan tree and begins telling his story. He was 19 years old the first time he went to jail. He’s 63 now, released four months ago after a lifetime of petty crime. He’s sitting 3 miles from the Washington County, Georgia, jail cell where he spent most of the last three years of his life.
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices across the state. CAES News
UGA sponsoring radon poster contest for Georgia students 09/13/24 Rebecca Cantrell
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offices across the state. Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in granite and rocky soils, so Georgia’s wealth of granite bedrock increases the chance of household radon for its residents.
Estate planning CAES News
Free workshop aims to help landowners navigate estate planning 08/05/24 Cal Powell
Most Americans die without an estate plan, which can create a host of problems for surviving family members. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and Fort Valley State Extension are offering a free workshop, “Sustaining the family home and farm through estate planning,” on Aug. 22 to educate Georgia landowners on the benefits of creating an estate plan. Attorney Gracy Barksdale will provide an overview of estate planning, covering topics such as wills, power of attorney and health care directives.
For some students, heading back to school feels like entering a pressure cooker. Parents can ease anxieties by helping their students develop strategies for handling stressful situations. CAES News
Families should make a plan to manage back-to-school stress 07/29/24 Merritt Melancon
As summer draws to an end, both students and parents need to prepare for the return to school. While a new backpack and a collection of notebooks and pens might top their to-do list, students also need to prepare emotionally, said Diane Bales, a human development specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and a professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Coastal Acres CAES News
AgrAbility program offers a Georgia farm family a new path forward 07/03/24 Jordan Powers
When a half-ton bale of hay fell off a wagon in 2019, striking the back of Donald Adams’ head, the future of his family farm fell into immediate uncertainty. More than 200 head of cattle are worked on the land at Coastal Acres, a Dearing, Georgia, operation that involves intense manual labor. “Donald sustained a C5-C6 spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the neck down,” said Laura Adams, Adams’ wife and co-owner of Coastal Acres.