By TIM DAVIS/Star-Tribune EditorTuesday, August 5, 2008 9:42 AM EDT
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors postponed a decision Monday night on requiring radon-resistant construction in new homes, saying more education is needed for the board and public.Supervisors also said the county may need to consider including radon testing for existing homes to ensure residents' safety.
Pittsylvania County, which is home to one of the largest uranium deposits in the United States, Coles Hill, northeast of Chatham, is among the areas of Virginia with high levels of radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas. Labeled a "silent killer," radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, water, and rock.The gas moves easily through soil and rock particles and can accumulate under the slabs and foundations of homes.It then enters homes through cracks and other openings, where it becomes trapped, causing a potential health hazard for residents.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.
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Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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