A Safer Home is Just a Few Clicks Away

We did a test for a buyer of a Salem home that was in the same family for three generations… 77 years.

I was at the home picking up our radon monitor at the same time the seller was there going through some things. She asked about radon and whether the house was a problem. I said I didn’t think it would be a deal killer based on the level, and she asked me what the level was and what it meant.

Because she didn’t pay for the test, I didn’t tell her the actual radon level. I did tell her that most people wouldn’t consider the level problematic, but more and more people are having mitigation systems installed at lower radon levels.

I told her that every study done to determine the ill effects of radon had been based on long-term exposure, 15 to 20 years, to radon levels under 2 pCi/l.

She asked me what the ill effects were.

I said they’ve discovered that non-smoking Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients have ten times more radon accumulated in their brains than non-patients. I also told her that Oregon State University is conducting a study on the relationship between radon and brain cancer. I mentioned the Swiss study confirming the causal effects of early childhood leukemia associated with radon, malignant melanoma, and, of course, that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the #2 cause behind smoking.

Her demeanor suddenly turned solemn. She asked me again what the radon level was there.

I went ahead and told her the overall average at her home was 2.1 pCi/l.

She turned and walked to the picture window that overlooked the property's acreage and sweeping views from to Mt. Hood to Mt. Jefferson.

“Neither my mom or grandma smoked.” she said. “They both died of lung cancer.”

I asked her if she spent much time in the home. “I grew up here.” She replied.

It was hard to tell what was going through her mind. She looked bewildered.

I spoke up again with the advice that if she’s concerned, she should have an LDCT scan. I explained that it’s an inexpensive test for people at high risk of lung cancer but without symptoms. I said her doctor would refer her for the scan in 2 seconds if he heard the history of her family and the radon in the house.

I told her that lung cancer symptoms usually don’t show up until it’s at Stage 3 or 4. At Stage 3 the life expectancy is 5 years, at stage 4 it's 6 months.

She looked confused and asked me again what the test was called, so I asked for her phone number and texted the name of the test to her phone.

I didn't know what else to say. I felt she wanted to be alone, so I said goodbye and left.

A few months later, I got a call from her on my cell phone. She reminded me who she was and told me that I was right; her doctor referred her for the LDCT test, but not without some push back.

The scan revealed a tumor on one of her lungs. She underwent treatment and just left from her final checkup, which confirmed the cancer was gone.

She said I was the first person she called.

I didn’t know what to think. I told her the same thing I tell hundreds of people every year, although I do feel most don’t go through with getting an LDCT test because they feel totally fine.

She said if she hadn’t been at the house the day we met, she would never have made the connection of her mother’s and grandmother’s lung cancer to radon.

She would have considered it “plain ‘ol bad luck… or genetics.” She certainly wouldn’t have thought to have an LDCT scan.

I told her how happy I was to hear from her and that everything worked out in her favor.

I asked her how she got my cell phone number, as we didn't do any work for her, and I never knew her name. She said she got it from the text I sent her, giving her the name of the lung cancer screen test.

She was very thankful. Amidst a sudden burst of tears, she said she wanted to do something that would help others become aware. She wanted direction from me, but emphasized that she didn’t want any recognition.

Over the next few weeks, we had some gret conversations about the best way to get the word out. The idea of giving away free radon tests and FreeOregonRadonTest.com was suggested. She loved it.

I had no idea when we first started the discussion who this woman or her family was… I do now… and I understand why she asked me to sign an NDA. She doesn't want any attention brought to her or her family. She wants to do what she can to make others aware of what radon can do… and perhaps save a loved one.

In the development of this program, we received information from the Oregon Health Authority, The American Lung Association, The NW Radon Coalition, and from the labs that make the test kits and process the test results.

There are three major labs in the United States. They all stated that only 25-30% of tests are returned for processing when there’s no charge for the test… not even postage. They gathered this information from state health departments, like the Oregon Health Authority, which gives out free radon test kits to people living in certain zip codes. When a small fee is charged, the return rate goes up to 80-90%.

What’s even more important is that by charging for shipping, we’re able to distribute more tests to those who really want to see what threat radon poses to their family, friends, and pets.

You can’t see, taste, smell, or feel radon gas.

There is no known safe level of radon.

Every home everywhere has radon.

You can only tell how much by testing the air.

Order your test today.

If your water comes from a private well, and there’s an elevated level of radon in the air, you should test the well water for radon. If there’s radon in the air of a home on a well 100% of the time, there will be radon in the water. However, there’s a 10,000:1 ratio of radon in water to air, which means that to get 1 pCi/l of radon into the air from radon out of the well water, it would take 10,000 pCi/l of radon in the water.

Please call the Just Radon office with any questions or concerns (503) 987-8776.