Radon testing at home

During Radon Action Month, South Carolinians are urged to test their homes for an unwanted intruder that can’t be seen. “You can’t see or smell radon but people need to be aware that there might be a silent killer in their homes,” said DHEC Radon Coordinator Aimee Morrow. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named January as Radon Action Month because the health effects of the gas tend to be downplayed or ignored.” Morrow says radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but which can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. And the EPA estimates that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year. A free radon test kit can be ordered from the DHEC website or by calling 1-800/768-0362. Radon kits can also be found at local hardware stores or ordered directly from radon testing companies.