about radon and its risks when searching the internet for the possible cause of respiratory symptoms during COVID.“ I can be a bit of hypochondriac Mom, but of course with the intention that knowledge is power” says Kayla.“ Once I learned there was the possibility of a lung cancer causing gas in my home that I couldn’ t see, smell, or taste, it made me alarmingly aware of the invisible health risk, I became more proactive to find a solution.”
Kayla immediately had both her indoor air and well water tested for radon. Her radon in air test came back at 68 pCi / L, her radon in water level exceeded 10,000 pCi / L. Both of these numbers are way over the EPA action levels of 4.0 pCi / L for air and 4,000 pCi / L for water. She knew she would have to fix both to protect her family.
Bad things happen in threes … Just as Kayla was discovering the presence of radon in both her air and well water, she was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension, a condition that requires ongoing spinal taps and treatment to relieve the pressure from excess spinal fluid building up in her brain and prevent longterm damage, including the risk of losing her sight from the pressure and possibly becoming blind. Suddenly, Kayla was facing a significant reduced schedule in her work hours as a pediatric medical assistant, leading to tight finances, increased healthcare costs, and the daily realities of trying to not only maintain her family and household but also give her children the ability to grow up in a healthy environment.
Kayla had to choose between the daily necessities of housing, food, clothing, and caring for her family or fixing the radon problem in her home.“ I had to put the radon problem on the back burner,” said Kayla. I had the quote, and the reality of the financial strain was too much to afford.“ I had no ability to pay for it, even with all the support I received from my community, my family, and my co-workers. But I never stopped worrying about it- it was on my mind every day. I called everyone I could come across and it was hard to even speak to an actual person. Every lead was a dead end.
Eventually I was able to get in contact the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. I am so grateful and appreciative to the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. During the very first phone conversation, before I even knew if they could help me, they gave me a sense of hope.”
A Health Issue Too Many Maine Families Face Alone Radon is the # 1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Only smoking causes more lung cancer than radon. Radon has no smell, no color, and no symptoms until years later, when its long-term exposure has already harmed your health. There’ s no medical test currently to test people for exposure. The only way to test is through water and air testing. It’ s why the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council raises money through its annual Indoor Insanity 5k event to help pay for fixing problems in low-income Maine homes. Thanks to the generous support of