BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Nearly 74,000 Vermont homes contain possibly dangerous levels of radon, according to the American Lung Association. The association, along with Vermont Health officials are urging Vermonters to test for the naturally occurring odorless, invisible gas.
Ethan Goodkind says he does about 200 home inspections a year and about 20% of those include testing a home for radon. He says that ever since the end of the pandemic, he has seen fewer and fewer homes being tested.
“I feel like last year the number was less. So, I think the height, maybe in my experience was, right in the smack of COVID,” Goodkind said. “Most people just don’t even know about it. Personally, I do not advertise much or at all about it. I’ve gone back and forth of, what a great time of year, I could really push doing some radon testing. But it can be hard to organize because you have to have the house sealed up for a minimum of 48 hours.”
The American Lung Association says an estimated 21.7% of Vermont radon test’s have resulted in equal to or exceeding the EPA action level of 4 picocuries. Lung cancer cases increase among individuals exposed to radon over their lifetime and the number goes even higher for smokers, which is why state health officials say homeowners should be vigilant.
“About one out of five Vermonters have levels — with their initial test is above the action level of EPA — so that’s certainly high enough that everyone should test. The symptoms of lung cancer typically appear only when the cancer is somewhat advanced. Therefore, more difficult to treat,” said Kevin Stewart with the American Lung Association:
The health department sends out 3,000 free radon test kits in Vermont every year. And for those who find radon, they should consider installing a radon mitigation system, which can cost up to $1,500 or more.
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