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Is a deadly unseen chemical lurking in your home?

Is a deadly chemical lurking in your home?

If you live in Huntsville or Madison County chances are you're breathing in harmful chemicals....and may not even know it.

This chemical is radon and it's a major problem in the Valley.

Especially in Madison County.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

But fortunately there is something you can do about it.

If you can't see it, smell it or taste it,  then how do you know if it puts you in danger?

To many in North Alabama, a silent killer is lurking in the living room. 

 North Alabama has some of the highest levels of radon in the country.

Experts say Hunstville is a particularly dangerous area because of the many caves that lie beneath

Neighborhoods spread throughout the city.

Blossomwood and Jones Valley we're told are among the most dangerous areas.

"Iwouldn't want to live there without checking myself," said Charlie Matthews, licensed mitigator.

The WAFF 48 News Investigators decided to put local homes to the test with the help of Charlie Matthews... A professional who deals with radon on a daily basis.

He helped us test four homes for radon in Blossomwood and one house in Jones Valley.   

For this story, we used short term tests, which only took three days to complete.

We placed vials in the lowest part of the homes and then waited 72 hours.

Then we mailed the samples to a lab.

If the results read four and below, the Environmental Protection Agency says you're safe.  

Anything above--you may have a problem.

"It's a proven fact that if you breathe high levels for a long period of time you will develop lung cancer," said Jim McNees, Alabama Department of Public Health.

Of the five homes we tested, three of them came back higher than 4%.

Matthews recommends those homeowners re-test.

"Radon levels can and do change within a single structure because of variables that we can't control," said Matthews.

Two of the homes we tested came back with what health officials say are safe radon levels.

But that's not good enough for homeowner, Cynthia Richardson. 

She plans to test again... And again if necessary.

"It would be foolish not to.   It's my health and my children's health, and it's the responsible thing to do," Richardson said.

The good news is if you do have high levels of radon, there's a simple solution.

Mitigators like Charlie Matthews install systems to get the chemical out of once dangerous homes with pipes based in either the home's basement or crawl-space.

Those pipes act like a vacuum cleaner to keep radon out of the home.

Alabama law does not require realtors to have homes they're selling tested for  radon.

Nor does the law say they have to reveal the fact that a home you're buying has high levels of the chemical.

If you think these laws need changing... Contact your local legislators.

In the meantime you can purchase short term testing kits at the Madison County extension service for around five dollars.

Test kits may be purchased at 819 Cook Ave. in Huntsville. You may call the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service at 256-532-1578.