- Students of the Month
- The Only Jiu-Jitsu Gym in La Feria!
- La Feria Native Soon To Retire From The Military This Summer
- Senior Eneece Avila Takes Pride in her State Title
- Dr. Noemi Infante, Harlingen Medical Center Open New Women’s Clinic
- Santa Rosa Cameron County Park Partially Reopens
- Santa Rosa Takes to Regionals Meet in Kingsville, Tx
- Long-Standing Nexstar Tower in La Feria Decommissioned
- Lionettes Powerlifting Meet
- Local Business Holds Event to Benefit RGV Shriners Club
Highest Radon Danger in TX in Panhandle, Hill Country & Far West
- Updated: February 3, 2015
by John Michaelson/TNS
AUSTIN, Texas – It really is a matter of out of sight, out of mind, but radon can pose a health danger for some Texas homeowners, and they’re being reminded of the importance of testing for the invisible and odorless radioactive gas.
Chris Van Deusen, a press officer with the Texas Department of State Health Services, says Texas is not a real high area of concern for radon, but does have some regions where it can be an issue.
“Most notably parts of the Panhandle and parts of far west Texas that have kind of a moderate potential for radon and a couple of counties sort of in central Texas, the hill country that are in that category,” he says. “But most of the state really has a low potential for radon.”
Radon test kits can be purchased at most hardware stores, and if a home is found to have high levels, the fix can be relatively simple with the installation of a mitigation system.
And for smokers, radon can compound their risk.
“We’re talking about breathing in a gas,” Van Deusen points out. “It’s lung cancer that radon typically causes and that obviously can really increase the chances since smoking is such a risk factor for lung cancer as well.
“So if people are smokers, that may double the reasons to do one of these tests.”
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes up from the ground from the decay of uranium.
January is National Radon Action Month.