Hidden Dangers

My hometown is Utica, Ohio which is located in Licking County. I learned that Licking County has the highest radon levels in Ohio. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in the outdoor air. Although when it becomes trapped in buildings, it can be harmful at elevated levels. It has recenty been determined that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the united states. Some studies indicate that radon causes between 15,000 and 20,000 lung cancers death each year. However, because you can not see or smell radon, people tend to minimize the health effects and ignore the possibility that it might exist in elevated levels in their homes.Since Licking County has one of the highest levels in Ohio, the Licking County Health Department has obtained a federal matching grant to provide radon education and free test kits to county residents. The results of radon tests that have been performed by Licking County residents indicate that over 70% of the homes had radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0pCi/L. This is the first that I have heard about this issue in my area. It really caught my attention and made me want to look more into the issue.