Radon ‘Hot Spots’ Found in Eastern Part of County : Health: Officials urge Fillmore, Thousand Oaks and Simi residents to test homes for the cancer-causing gas.

More homes in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Fillmore have unsafe levels of radon than the state average, making those areas “hot spots” for the cancer-causing gas, health officials said Wednesday.

Although only a fraction of those houses may exceed federal health and safety guidelines, officials urged residents in those areas to have their homes tested for the colorless, odorless gas.

“I wouldn’t think anyone in Ventura County should panic,” said Gregory R. Smith, head of Ventura County’s Hazardous Materials Program. “But it may be prudent for people in those higher areas to test their homes.”

Smith was one of several county and state officials who conducted a daylong seminar on radon sponsored by the California Department of Health Services. About 60 people, from real estate appraisers to retirees, attended the free workshop held at Ventura police headquarters.

The state agency is holding similar seminars throughout California to inform the public about the dangers of radon, said David Quinton, the state health official who organized the event. Elevated levels of radon are a concern because studies show that prolonged exposure to the radioactive gas can lead to lung cancer.

Scientists are more certain about the risks of radon than other cancer-causing substances. A person’s chances of getting lung cancer from radon increases with how much radon gas is trapped in the home, the amount of time spent in the home and whether the person smokes.

Radon is found all over the United States, with particularly heavy concentrations along the Appalachian Mountains, and causes about 14,000 deaths in this country each year, officials said.

The gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and is inhaled by humans when it becomes airborne.

State officials performed a study of radon levels in Ventura County in 1990, Smith said. Scientists from the Department of Health Services monitored 800 homes chosen at random throughout the county for one year, he said.

Because the study uses ZIP codes to mark geographical areas--an arbitrary boundary in geological terms--state officials emphasize that the lines are not absolute.

The results of the study showed that about 8% of residences in Fillmore, Simi Valley and the eastern half of Thousand Oaks could have unsafe levels of radon, Smith said.

About 15% of houses in an unincorporated area east of Thousand Oaks, including Bell Canyon, could have indoor radon levels that exceed federal standards, according to the study. Homes in all other areas of the county are considered at low risk for elevated radon levels, Smith said.

By comparison, 1% to 2% of homes statewide have radon levels that exceed federal safety guidelines, according to studies conducted by state officials.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has established four picocuries per liter (pCi/l) as a safe level of radon in indoor air. In the 1990 Ventura County study, scientists found radon levels that ranged from undetectable to 15 pCi/l, Smith said. The highest level was found in an Oxnard home, he said.

Homes in Fillmore, Simi Valley and eastern Thousand Oaks were found to have an average radon reading of 2.01 pCi/l. For the unincorporated area east of Thousand Oaks, the average level was 2.51 pCi/l, Smith said.

Radon emanates from geological deposits such as shale beneath the floors and foundations of homes and buildings. Levels of radon could be elevated in Ventura County because layers of gas-producing sediment are not as deep in the earth as they are in other areas of California, health officials said.

The gas is sucked into the residence when a vacuum is created by warm air escaping through the roof or by exhaust fans such as those in the kitchen or bathroom. Homes built on concrete slabs, as are an estimated 65% of homes in California, tend to have higher levels of radon than those built with a crawl space beneath, state health officials said. The crawl space allows for better ventilation underneath the house.

In some cases, elevated radon levels can be reduced simply by sealing cracks in floors and walls, or by installing fans to change the pressure inside the house and force the gas outside.

Smith urged anyone who is concerned about radon to have their home tested. Home test kits are available for as little as $20 and the test takes about two days to perform, he said. A professional radon-tester will charge about $100 for an analysis, officials said.

If the radon problem is extensive, a contractor may have to be called in to make repairs, with costs ranging from $500 to $2,500, health officials said.

FYI

Publications on radon are available from the California Radon Program by calling 1-800-745-7236. Home radon test kits and professional analysis services are available from Radon Detection Systems, 1-800-678-8879; American Radon Detection Co., Thousand Oaks, 523-1226; and Chempet Research, Moorpark, 529-0814.

Radon in Ventura County Radon-an odorless, colorless gas-can cause cancer. In areas marked medium risk, about 8% of homes could have radon levels considered unsafe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In areas marked high risk, about 15% of homes may exceed the EPA’s guidlines. State health officials recommend that all residents in these “hot spots” test their homes. The rest of the county is considered a low-risk area. Source: Ventura County Environmental Health Department