Some 30 homes in Williamsburg will be able to avail to free radon tests conducted as part of a William & Mary geology student’s senior project to assess a radon-risk map being developed within the city.
The tests will be done through the university’s Department of Geology.
Rick Berquist, research associate in the university’s geology department, said radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, and a health hazard.
And oh, Radon Awareness Week is Oct. 17-24.
Some Williamsburg homes are built atop marine sediments known as the Yorktown Formation, Berquist said in a news release from W&M.
The formation is rich in fossils, but also is associated with higher levels of radon. Some Williamsburg homes test at radon levels above those deemed to be safe, he noted.
A set of factors including the particular geology underneath a home, construction method and elevation makes some homes more susceptible to radiation infiltration than others, according to the news release.
The geology department has been assembling a radon-risk map of the area. A William & Mary geology major will conduct the home tests to validate the predictions made by the map as part of a senior thesis.
The testing will involve providing radon test kits to homeowners and a return visit two days later. Homeowners will be advised later of the radon level in their homes and given advice on remediation, if necessary, according to the news release.
University officials said they will share results – once the map is complete — with the city of Williamsburg.
Interested homeowners may apply for the test by emailing radonresearch@wm.edu.
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