If you’ve seen this article on elevated radon levels from granite countertops, you may be either patting yourself on the back for never opting for that trendy design option or already ripping them out of your kitchen or bath. If you have granite, it’s a good idea to test for radon, but even if you don’t, it’s important to test anyway.

Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. The process may be natural, but radon exposure is second to cigarettes as a leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths a year. Radon typically enters your home through cracks in the foundation or holes in pipes, sumps or insulation, which is why there is such a buzz about the possibility that we may bring it into our homes with our countertops.

Radon is odorless, tasteless and colorless so there is no way to know its presence unless you test for it. What’s more, the EPA estimates that 1 in every 15 homes has elevated radon levels and no geographical location is immune. If you find you do have high levels, radon remediation is fairly straightforward and 99% effective. But you can’t fix it unless you know you have it. So granite or no granite, everyone should test for radon.

Testing options
If you have a strong hunch that you do have high levels of radon because it’s showing up in other homes in your area, then it’s a good idea to hire a professional testing service. Contact your state radon office to get a list of qualified companies.

Otherwise, you can buy a do-it-yourself test at any DIY or hardware store. They cost just $20 to $30 and are easy to use. You may even be able to get cheaper or free kits from your state or county government. It’s a good idea to start with a short-term test that takes less than 90 days. According to the EPA, if you find levels above 4pCi/L, follow up with a long-term test. If again you get levels higher than 4pCi/L, it’s time to get a professional evaluation and fix your home. Other authorities, including Consumer Reports, lowers the acceptable level of radon to under 2pCi/L

Lowering radon levels
Your state radon office can also give you a list of qualified companies to help you fix your home. The most effective method involves a system that pulls the radon out of your soil and releases it out the top of your home. Lowering radon levels does not require major structural work on your home and costs about $1,200 for the average home. While this is certainly a bigger home investment than say switching to CFLs or buying a green cleaner, the benefits to your indoor air quality and long-term health are well worth it.

While a radon test is about as fun as a calculus test (though with much less effort and no studying), its payoff is a lot bigger: reduce your risk of lung cancer so you can live a long and healthy life!

Kimberly Delaney is the author of Clean Home, Green Home: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Eco-friendly Homekeeping forthcoming this fall from the Knack imprint of Globe Pequot Press.