January is Radon Awareness Month, and Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Auxiliary members learned more about the dangers of radon in a special presentation last week. Shelly Schossow, a member of Environmental Health at Calhoun County Public Health, prepared a presentation on the colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. She told attendees that as radon decays, it releases radioactive particles that damage the lining of the lungs and it is estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 Americans die from radon-related lung cancer every year. Testing is the only way to determine whether radon is present and at what level. Radon kits are available at various locations, including short- and long-term kits through Calhoun County Public Health. If high levels of radon are detected, mitigation systems are recommended. For more information on this presentation and radon testing, contact Calhoun County Public Health at 712-297-8323.
