The dangers of radon are still a mystery, but fear not fair citizens, January is National Radon Awareness Month.

Bob Drake, director of environmental health for the DeKalb County Health Department, describes radon as a naturally occurring gas.

“Radon gas is formed by the decay of uranium in the soil,” he said.

Drake said if radon is in people’s homes, it can be harmful to them.

“After a long time of breathing radon, people can get lung cancer,” Drake said. “Radon can come through seepage or through underground exposed drain pipes that goes into basements.”

DeKalb building inspector Jerry Rogers said radon detectors are not required.

“We don’t have a requirement in our city code that requires radon detectors in houses or apartments,” Rogers said.

Rogers said the city only checks for radon when residents are changing ownership.

“When someone sells their home, we do have a radon check, but that’s the only time it’s done,” he said.

Sophomore business major Brendan Mears said although he does not have a radon detector, he is not too troubled by it.

“I know I have a fire detector in my townhouse, but I don’t have a radon detector,” Mears said. “If my realty company thought it was a big deal, then there would probably be a radon detector.”

Senior journalism major Chris Beverley said he is not worried he does not have a radon detector.

“I definitely do not have a radon detector in my apartment,” Beverley said, “and it’s something I don’t necessarily need to have.”

Rogers said if a change is made to the city code, then radon detectors would be required.