Homes in Clark County show a “much higher value” of radon than expected, according to a recent Portland State University study.
Radon, a gas that is naturally emitted from the ground, is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The PSU study sampled 3,159 homes across all 19 Clark County ZIP codes and found four areas with “high potential” for radon in homes: the Amboy ZIP code of 98601 and the Vancouver ZIP codes of 98660, 98663 and 98664.
The remaining 15 ZIP codes showed “moderate potential” for radon in homes, according to the study. Countywide, one in five homes showed a high, “action level” of radon, which is defined as at least 4 picocuries per liter.
