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GRANVILLE - Annie Cacciato knew the dangers of radon.
She had her home tested and installed a mitigation system when the results showed high levels. When her family moved to a different home, Cacciato had that home tested.
But she never thought to test her workplace.
"People don’t understand the danger that’s happening right before their eyes. I think we all assume that whether be the private sector or our government, that we have a safe environment," she said. "We have a life-threatening danger that you can’t see."
Cacciato was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in November 2013 after she said she was exposed to high radon levels where she worked in Granville. She is still undergoing treatment.
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air. But when it is trapped in buildings, it can be harmful at elevated levels.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Historically, Licking County has the highest radon levels in the state. Radon test results show nearly three out of four homes in Licking County have radon levels above the EPA action level of 4.0 picoCuries/liter (4 pCi/l) of air, according to the county health department.
In the years since her diagnosis, Cacciato has become very passionate about educating others on the dangers of radon. She recently completed the education required by the state to be licensed in radon testing.
If radon levels are high in areas where a person spends a great deal of time, such as their home, school or workplace, that’s when they are in the most danger, Cacciato said.
"All exposure is bad, but your health risks go up and up as they’re prolonged," she said.
Cacciato said if people have a living area in their basement, such as an office, bedroom or children's playroom, they should test their home.
Radon tests kits are available for free to Licking County residents from the Licking County Health Department through a federal matching grant, said Olivia Biggs, a department spokeswoman.
The grant, through the Ohio Department of Health, also serves residents in Morrow, Knox, Delaware, Fairfield, Perry, Muskingum, Coshocton, Holmes, Tuscarawas, Guernsey, Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Jefferson, and Columbiana counties.
Homeowners can fill out an online application for the test kit by visiting the radon section of the health department's website and the kit arrives in the mail, Biggs said.
"The radon test kit is easy to use," she said. "They have written instructions so that it’s easy to understand so that the homeowner feels confident using it."
The homeowner then sends the kit to the state health department for testing.
Biggs said people should test their home every three to five years.
Cacciato said just because a home has low radon levels, it doesn't mean the levels will always remain low. Once the level is high, it will not decrease without a mitigation system.
Homeowners can get one free kit from the health department every year, Biggs said.
If a home does show high radon levels, Biggs said the health department lets the homeowners know where they can find a qualified radon service professional to install a mitigation system to make their home safe.
January is Radon Action Month and Cacciato is trying to create awareness about the preventable cancer by telling her story.
"I don’t want this to happen to anybody else," she said. "If we can help one family or one person understand the risks that are taking place that would be great."
740-328-8513
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
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Annie Cacciato
740 403 1563
3691 Gale Rd.
Granville, OH
email: [email protected]