Radon kits available locally for home testing

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Alabama Cooperative Extension office has radon test kits available at their office since Franklin County has been identified as a county with high concentration of radon.
Katernia Cole, county extension agent, said Franklin County is one of 15 Alabama counties that have been identified to have a high concentration of radon.
Cole said that radon is an odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in most rocks and soil.
"Radon is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water," Cole said. "Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States."
In order to bring awareness to the need to check our homes for radon, the extension office has radon test kits available for $5 each.
"We have short term radon detectors available at our office," Cole said. "The only way to detect Radon in your home is to conduct a radon test."
Franklin is joined by Colbert, Lawrence, Lauderdale, Morgan, Limestone, Madison, and Jackson counties as having the highest potential for radon. Marion, Winston, and Cullman counties are among those who are at moderate risk for radon. The lowest risks of radon are in South Alabama in counties such as Baldwin, Wilcox, Clarke, and Pike counties.
The Franklin County Extension Office has the radon test kits available for purchase.
The office is located in the basement of the courthouse. For more information on radon, call 332-8880.