Radon Gas Concerns Raise on Southern Tier Close Up

The dangers of radon gas in our area are highlighted in the February 10 edition of the weekly local public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up.

Broome County Health Department Program Director and Healthy Neighborhoods coordinator, Mark Schuster talks about the odorless, tasteless and invisible gas that can intrude into homes and business and is tied to lung cancer, even in non-smokers.

Schuster says even though radon was a more widely discussed issue in the 1980s and 1990s, it does not go away.

This part of New York State has some of the highest levels of radon in the Northeast.

Schuster says testing and mitigation of the gas can be relatively inexpensive and should not prohibit a buyer from interest in any property.

Radon is actually a by-product, if you will, of the natural half-life of uranium occurring naturally in the ground.

For more information on radon, some free testing programs and help with mitigation, contact the Broome County Health Department.

Southern Tier Close Up is heard Saturdays at 12:10 p.m. on News Radio 1290 WNBF.