Target 11 investigates high radon levels

PITTSBURGH — A Target 11 investigation has uncovered thousands of homes filled with unsafe levels of a gas that causes cancer.

We're talking about radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas. Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor discovered the problem is far worse than most of us realize.

I found out that all of the counties surrounding Pittsburgh have average radon readings that are above the EPA guideline of 4.0. So we decided to test 20 homes in the area. An alarming number of the radon tests came back high.

Eleven homes in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Westmoreland counties all tested in the danger zone. And one, in Beaver County, tested the highest. So we talked to homeowners who had extremely high levels and learned what can be done.

Cathy and Russ Glenz raised their daughter in their Brighton Township home. Little did they know, they were exposed to dangerous levels of radon the whole time. They had the highest reading in our test, 16.7, which is four times the EPA guideline.

"Just the fact that this long-term exposure has occurred, and we've both smoked on and off for years unfortunately, so that doubles the risk or more," said Cathy Glenz.

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. It kills about 800 Pennsylvanians each year. The risk is even higher if you smoke.

"It's not a scam. It's real and it kills people," said Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health for the American Lung Association.

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium. It seeps into basements through tiny cracks in the foundation and then if the windows are closed, it stays there.

"Basically what we're talking about is a radioactive gas. So if you talk to people about radioactivity in any other context, they would be very, very panicked,” said Robert Lewis, of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

I went to Harrisburg to meet the man in charge of the state's radon program. Bob Lewis showed me his basement where he constantly monitors radon. The level was high the day I was there.

"So if you spent a lot of time down here, would you be concerned?" I asked. "I would be concerned, yes," said Lewis.

Pennsylvania is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to radon. The average reading is 7, but many homes test higher than that. The EPA guideline calls for no more than 4.

“The highest we've seen is I think 2,700," said Lewis. "That was down in Boyertown, Pa."

Experts blame the geology. While there's not much you can do about that, you can install a radon mitigation system, which moves radon that's underneath your home, up a pipe to the roof, where it’s released outside and dissipates in the air.

Frank Bobro is an engineer at WPXI. In 1998, the radon level in his Washington County home was 182. He had a mitigation system installed and wanted to know if it was still working.

"I can say I got it to the post office quick and got it out there because I was a little anxious to see what it was going to be and I was quite pleased that it was as low as it was," said Bobro, who lives in Scenery Hill.

The level came back at 1.1, which is excellent!  And goes to show the problem can be fixed, which is what Cathy and Russ Glenz plan to do next.

“I think it's something that anyone should get their homes tested, and should do something about, if the level's high," said Cathy Glenz.

A radon mitigation system costs about $800. If you’re thinking about getting one, make sure you go with a contractor that is registered with the state.

Radon testing is simple. The kits cost about $15 and are something you can do yourself. You simply expose the charcoal to the air in the basement for a couple days, then seal up the test and send it to the lab. The results are available in two to three weeks. For an additional fee, the results can be emailed to you in two to three days.

WPXI