Is radon a problem in Kentucky?
Radon can also enter the home through well water but usually carries little risk in Kentucky. For more information about radon in drinking water please call the state radon office or the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Does Kentucky have radon gas?
Kentucky residents concerned about safety Despite the fact that Kentucky has one of the highest average levels of radon in the nation, little is done to protect residents from the deadly gas. Property owners are not required to test for radon or install mitigation systems in new construction.
What is an unacceptable level of radon?
Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L. The EPA estimates that a radon removal system costs about $1,200 for an average house.
Why is radon high in Kentucky?
Residential radon concentrations vary widely by geographic area. Common uranium-bearing, high radon potential rock types in Kentucky include black shale and phosphatic limestones.
Is radon a problem in Louisville Ky?
It’s important to note that the city of Louisville as a whole has been rated Zone-1 by the EPA for having the highest likelihood of elevated Radon gas numbers. Everyone in this area should have their homes tested to know for sure what their specific home’s levels are.
Is there uranium in Kentucky?
Kentucky has small amounts of the naturally occurring radioactive elements uranium, radon, and thorium. These elements occur in the black shale, which crops out in a horseshoe shape around central Kentucky, and in the phosphate deposits in the Lexington Limestone in central Kentucky.
Does rain make radon worse?
Certain types of weather can have a greater impact on your home’s radon levels. Wind and rain storms create the largest variables of radon levels when testing for radon gas. Rainier days tend to result in noticeably higher radon levels. This is because rainy days are often coupled with lower barometric pressure.
What is the Kentucky radon program?
Led by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the program works to promote statewide knowledge of the harm radon may bring. The Kentucky Radon Program provides radon test kits free of charge to Kentucky residents through grant funding from the EPA State Indoor Radon Grant.
How do you test for radon in Kentucky?
There are two general ways to test for radon: year-long testing and short-term testing. Long-term test kits: The EPA and the Kentucky Radon Program recommend homes be tested for one full calendar year when practical. Long-term kits can be used for tests lasting from 90 days up to a full year.
What is the state indoor radon grant program?
Since 1989, Kentucky and the EPA have worked together to reduce radon exposure through the application of funds from the State Indoor Radon Grant.
Is radon in drinking water safe in Kentucky?
Radon can also enter the home through well water but usually carries little risk in Kentucky. For more information about radon in drinking water please call the state radon office or the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. The Kentucky Radon Program encourages continuous education on radon gas.