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Short Term Radon Kits Now Available
You can’t see radon or smell or taste it but it may be a problem in your home. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation and builds up in your home. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause among non-smokers. The only way to find out if you have elevated radon levels in your home is to conduct a simple test.
The Franklin County Board of Health has received a grant from the Ohio Department of Health to provide short- term radon test kits for Franklin County residents at no cost in 2006. Please be aware that we have a limited number of test kits! A radon test kit can be picked up at the following locations throughout the county:
Northeast Columbus, Blendon Township, Plain Township, Westerville, New Albany
The Gillie Center
2100 Morse Road |
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South Columbus, Obetz, Lockbourne,
Hamilton Township
Southside Pride Center
310 E Innis Avenue |
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Upper Arlington, Northwest Columbus, Perry Township
Upper Arlington Fire Office
3600 Tremont Road |
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Grove City, Southwest Columbus, Jackson Township,
Pleasant Township
Jackson Twp Fire Department
3650 Hoover Road |
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Westerville, Northeast Columbus, Minerva Park,
Blendon Township
Westerville Fire Department
400 W Main Street |
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Groveport, Canal Winchester, Madison Township
Madison Township Fire Department
4567 Firehouse Lane |
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Reynoldsburg, East Columbus Truro Township,
Jefferson Township
Truro Twp Fire Department
6900 E Main Street |
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Grandview Heights, The Ohio State University,
Victorian Village
Grandview Heights Fire Department
1016 Grandview Avenue |
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Whitehall, Berwick, Bexley, East Columbus
Whitehall Fire Department
390 S Yearling Road |
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Gahanna, East Columbus, Mifflin Township,
Jefferson Township
Mifflin Twp Fire Department
475 Rocky Fork Blvd. |
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Worthington, Clintonville, Sharon Township
Worthington Fire Departmemt
6500 N High Street |
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Dublin, Hilliard, NorthWest Columbus, Norwich Township, Brown Township, Washington Township
Washington Twp Fire Department
6200 Eiterman Road |
You may visit any of these locations to pick up a radon test kit. To get a kit, you will have to print your name, address and zipcode on the Sign-Out Sheet. You’ll notice that there are numbers in the first column of the Sign-Out Sheet. These numbers correspond to the numbers of the radon kits at that location. The kit number is located on the upper left-hand corner of the kit. Please be certain that the you place your name, and provide your address and zipcode on the same line as your kit number.
Please use the test kit as soon as you can. Follow the directions in the package that accompany the kit. When you’ve finished testing, place the kit in the pre-paid mailer, and send it to the manufacturer for analysis. There is no cost to you for the analysis. If you have questions about how to conduct the test, or about your results, contact Mike Lopinsky at the Franklin County Board of Health, (614) 462-4537.
Questions and Answers about Radon Testing
Q: Does the Board of Health mail out test kits?
A: No. We no longer provide that service.
Q: Why do I have to give you my name and address in order to get a test kit?
A: The kits are provided to us through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH.) ODH and the University of Toledo are trying to map the extent of radon contamination in Ohio. Each result gives them more data to use to make decisions concerning the potential risk to Ohio residents from radon. We do NOT release your personal information to any agency or private individual!
Q: Is there an “acceptable” level of radon?
A: USEPA has established 4 picocuries / liter of air as the “Action Level” for radon in a home.
Q: How does radon get into my home?
A: Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally occurring in the soil and bedrock. It enters the home (usually the basement or slab) through cracks, holes, and other openings.
Q: What do I do if my test results exceed 4.0 picocuries / liter?
A: Currently, no law requires a homeowner to mitigate the radon. However, if you sell your home in the future, you must be disclosed that a radon test was conducted, and what level of radon was detected. If you choose to have radon mitigation done, please click HERE for a list of all licensed radon mitigation contractors in the state of Ohio.
PLEASE READ!
Our supply of short - term radon test kits is very limited! Please don’t get a kit unless you are absolutely sure that you will use it! When we have had kits available for the public in the past, less than 20% of them were used, which wasted tax dollars and deprived many residents of the opportunity to test their home for radon!
What are some other radon resources?
Ohio Radon Information System Web Site
USEPA Radon Site
Radon Information Center (commercial)
General Radiation Protection Standards for Sources of Radiation
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