Columbus families, renters, and former students learned their homes and buildings had high radon only after years of exposure. Their stories show why testing matters now, not later.
Kim Tolnar
“After everything my classmates and I went through, I know we were exposed to something that ultimately gave us cancer. We just didn’t know it at the time.”
Survivor of the Marion leukemia cluster, discovered elevated radon levels years later.
Marlene Carey
“I moved into my home thinking it was safe. No one told me the unit had been mitigated and never retested. You don’t expect to be left in the dark about something like this.”
Learned her rental wasn’t retested for years after radon mitigation.
Cara Morrison
“We tested our home only after a friend got sick. My result came back at 20.7. You think your home is safe until you see the number.”
Lives in Licking County, one of the highest radon areas in the country.
You Live in a High Radon Area
The new investigation in The Columbus Dispatch shows how widespread radon is across central Ohio. Homes in Columbus, Franklin County, Delaware County, and especially Licking County continue to test at levels known to increase long-term health risks.
The reporting revealed gaps in testing across schools, rentals, and public buildings. Some families only learned they were living with high radon after health problems appeared, highlighting how invisible this threat can be. Experts warn that children, never-smokers, and households that have never tested remain especially vulnerable.
Testing is the only way to know if your home is safe. Mitigation is effective when needed. Most Ohio homes have never been tested, and this investigation shows why it matters.