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How to detect radon in your home
Keep Liberty Beautiful
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Having worked for various branches of state or local governments for most of my career, I have gone to a lot of meetings in my lifetime. As a matter of fact, when I get notice of a meeting I need to attend, I nearly cringe at times.
It can be hard to believe that I will come away from a state meeting with substantial and valuable information. However, I have to admit that the Department of Community Affairs and Keep Georgia Beautiful meetings continue to pleasantly surprise me. I would like to share some information I received at a KGB meeting this week.
I have heard bits and pieces about radon for several years now, but I never really paid attention to concerns about it. I recently received this information from a presentation on the health risks associated with radon. I also learned about ways you can protect your home and family.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.
You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause several thousand deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing high levels of radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the surgeon general has warned that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over the United States. It comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water. It gets into the air we breathe. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices and schools — and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to be exposed at home, where you spend most of your time.
Any home may have a radon problem. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
Radon from soil gas is most common, but occasionally, radon enters the home through well water. In some homes, the building materials themselves can give off radon. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in Georgia. The heaviest concentrations in Georgia appear to be in the northern part of the state.
While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know about your home is to test it, which is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk.
The EPA and the surgeon general recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. The EPA also recommends testing in schools. Testing is inexpensive and easy. It only takes a few minutes to set up a kit.
The amount of radon in the air is measured in “pico curies per liter of air,” or “pCi/L.” Levels higher than four are considered high. There are many low-cost “do-it-yourself” radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores. Kits are also available online through the EPA’s  Web site, www.epa.gov/radon.
You can also hire a qualified tester to come into your home. There is a list of qualified testers on the EPA Web site.
You can fix a radon problem. Radon-reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon-reduction systems can reduce levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Installation of a system can range from $800 to $2,500.
New homes can be built with radon-resistant features. When installed properly and completely, these simple and inexpensive techniques can help reduce indoor radon levels. In addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it easier and less expensive
Radon can also be a problem in schools and workplaces. Contact the state radon office through the EPA Web site about radon concerns regarding schools, day cares, childcare facilities and workplaces.
I got a test kit from the EPA and I am testing our home this week. In a couple of days I will mail the kit back to be analyzed and I will receive the test results. More than likely, the results will be fine, but better safe than sorry.
I hope you will consider testing your home, too — particularly if you smoke. Radon is a potential health risk than can be resolved, but only if you know it exists.

KLCB announcements that you can use to help save the environment:
• Win-dex Attractive Business Awards nominations for this quarter will be accepted until Sept. 30. Call 368-4888 or 368-4445 or e-mail klcb@coastalnow.net for a nomination form.
• Oct. 24: The annual Rivers Alive Cleanups in Liberty County.
• Tell the world how you really feel about litter. Get your free litter car decal by calling 368-4888 or e-mailing klcb@coastalnow.net.
• Keep your “butts” off the streets and sidewalks! Cigarette litter needs to be disposed of properly. For a free pocket ashtray, call 368-4888.

For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Swida at 368-4888 or klcb@coastalnow.net.
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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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