All Homeowners are Encouraged to Test Their House for Radon
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EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.
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Red Zones: Counties with the highest potential for elevated indoor radon levels
Orange Zones: Counties with a moderate potential for elevated indoor radon levels |
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All homeowners are encouraged to test the lowest level of their house for Radon. It has been known since the 1980s that humans face a health threat from naturally occurring Radon gas. Radon causes lung cancer. It is second only to cigarette smoking as the cause of lung cancer. Different studies debate the actual number of annual deaths caused by Radon, but even the least estimate numbers, still in the thousands (22,000 per year in U.S.), are cause for alarm. Logan County, along with two-thirds of Ohio is identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a high risk area for occurrence of Radon accumulation in homes. Radon is unseen with no odor, but can easily be detected using a test kit available at the Logan County Health District ($6.00), 310 South Main Street, Bellefontaine, 937-592-9040.
Unlike some environmental hazards to health, persons can easily take action against Radon gas. The first step is to test your home. Testing should be done when windows are ordinarily closed for a three or four day period. Late fall and winter are good times to test when windows and doors are no longer left open. This will yield the highest levels of Radon a person may be exposed to. The test kit is placed in the basement or lowest level of the home for 3-4 days then sealed and dropped in the mail (postage prepaid). The lab sends a confidential report within days.
If test results are high enough for concern, residents can review their options to remove Radon from their home, and take whatever action they decide is necessary. Radon comes from the natural rock decay processes in subsoil. It is trapped in buildings as the subsoil air rises through cracks and pores in foundations. Removal of Radon is usually accomplished by penetrating the subsurface beneath a building and venting the subsurface air through the roof. This process is inexpensive during building construction, but is also very feasible for
existing buildings. A list of licensed contractors and specialists in Ohio is available from the Logan County Health District, Environmental Unit.
Unseen, unnoticed disease causing agents like Radon gas tend to take a back seat to diseases with more immediate impact. People cannot always take direct action against such threats, but in the case of Radon, it is easy to detect and remove. Anyone can take action against Radon. More information is available at www.loganhealth.org. “Like” the Logan County Health District on Facebook to receive the up to date heath related information.
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PREPARE… PLAN…STAY INFORMED!
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After flooding of a well disinfection should be performed.
CLICK HERE for well disinfection instructions
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What you need to know about bed bugs.
Additional resources are available HERE
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May 25, 2010 Pertussis Alert for Logan County Physicians/Healthcare Providers. Click for further information
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Dr. Hoddinott recently presented information to Logan County Health District staff on Vitamin D in Health and Disease.
Click here to view the full presentation.
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The
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population
Health Institute released its 2009 County Health Rankings Report. The
County Health Rankings are the first to rank the overall health of the
counties in all 50 states. Click
here to see the health rankings for Logan County.
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Changes
in Required Immunizations
for
2010-2011 School Year
An
additional Tdap (Tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis) booster is now
required for 7th grade -
An
additional varicella (chickenpox) booster is required for kindergarten
-
The
4th dose of polio vaccine must be given on or after the 4th birthday
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