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Nov 22, 2005 10:58 pm US/Central
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Air Of Danger: Radon Test A Wake-Up Call For Many
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
It's the time of year when we close up our houses against the cold, and our risk of radon exposure is at it's highest.
Last February, more than 5,400 people responded to our report on radon by ordering kits to test their homes for an air of danger.
As Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports, it was a wake-up call for many. And for one woman, it was a possible answer to a puzzling illness.
Marie Hoeflinger is a vibrant, vivacious mother of three, who is fighting for her life. Hoeflinger has stage four lung cancer. She's never smoked.
"You don't think that ... you're 43, and you're young, healthy, and that you know you have this going on," Hoeflinger said.
"You live everyday wondering how could this happen?" said her husband, Joe Hoeflinger.
Our report convinced the couple to test their home for radon. It's a gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the ground. You can't see, smell, or taste it.
Outdoors radon is harmless. But if it enters your home through cracks in the foundation or seeps through concrete, it can build up.
Radiation Oncologist Dr. William Hartsell at Good Samaritan Hospital says the problem is exposure over time.
"Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoke," Hartsell said.
The Environmental Protection Agency says anything over level four is of concern. The Hoeflinger's home was level eight.
"I found we had double the level of radon the EPA allows," Jim Hoeflinger said.
They were stunned and so were many other homeowners who tested their homes after our report.
Out of 2,600 kits tested, there were elevated radon levels in 10 percent of kits from Cook County, 23 percent from Lake County, and 31 percent from McHenry County.
Additionally, 33 percent of kits from DuPage County tested high, 35 percent from Will County, and 41 percent from both Dekalb and Kendall Counties.
Kane County was highest at 44 percent. Carrie Edds' home was one of those with a reading of 15.
"I expected normal, maybe a little above average, but not almost 4 times. It's quite a shock," Edds said.
This expectant mom had planned to put the baby's room in the basement. That's on hold. She's now planning to install a radon mitigation system. The Hoeflinger's already have one.
"With that system in, it does give us peace of mind. That we don't have to worry about that," Jim Hoeflinger said.
Since we spoke with Carrie Edds, she has re-tested, and things are worse than she thought. She found a level of 24 in her basement and 12 on her first floor.
Radon test kits are available at hardware stores and through county health departments.
To purchase test kits:1-800-247-2435 (air-chek)
www.wbbm.radon.com
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)