Carson Valley testing shows radon spike

Recent Douglas County homeowner radon results show 21 percent of the homes tested during the past few months have elevated levels of the cancer-causing gas.

Officials said some test results show alarming numbers in the 60s, which is 1,500 percent above the EPA’s action level of 4 picoCuries per liter of air.

Radon is a gas found in all homes. It comes from the decay of uranium in rocks and soil, particularly granite.

The odorless, tasteless, invisible gas becomes a concern when the gas is trapped inside, and the level rises to 4 pCi/L.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends mitigating or fixing the problem when test results show 4 or higher.

“The only way to know if your home has a high radon level is to test for it,” said University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Radon Education Program Manager Chris Kelly. “You cannot rely on your neighbor’s results. Testing is easy and only takes a few days, results take a few weeks.”

Kelly will be teaching a free radon education class designed specifically for Carson Valley residents 5:30 p.m. March 8 in the CVIC Hall in Minden.

The class will cover basic radon education, proper testing techniques, how to read test results, and resources for mitigation. Class attendees will receive a free radon test kit.

Radon test kits are available at Cooperative Extension and partner locations.

Free test kits can be picked up while supplies last at the Extension Office on Waterloo Lane in Douglas County, or call 775-782-9960 for more information.

The Nevada Radon Education Program is a program of University of Nevada, Reno Extension and is funded through an EPA grant. Since the program began in 2007, about 30,000 homes have been tested in Nevada.