Area man battles lung cancer, high radon levels discovered in rural Spring Grove home

“It all started back in July. I had a cough and could not get rid of it,” recalls Mark Johnson, a farmer near Spring Grove, discussing the events leading to his diagnosis with lung cancer in December. “The over-the-counter stuff didn’t work. After awhile my family said I should go and get it checked out.”

The cough continued throughout the fall and on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving and after most of his field work was done, Johnson went to the doctor.

“They wanted to do a chest x-ray to look for pneumonia,” he explained. When doctors saw questionable images on the x-ray they did a CT scan for further observation. On Dec. 18 the phone call came with the results; the growth in his lungs causing his chronic coughing was lung cancer. Already diagnosed as stage three cancer, chemotherapy would be the only option.

Lung cancer is most commonly associated with people who smoke. Never having been a smoker himself, or even exposed to much second hand smoke, Johnson was left puzzled by the diagnosis, along with the suite of other emotions a person experiences upon learning such news.

“It takes you by surprise when you get diagnosed like this,” Johnson added, an understatement by most standards.

Since Johnson does not smoke, doctors questioned other factors known to cause lung cancer, radon exposure being the number one cause after smoking. Inspired by the doctor’s question as to whether they had ever tested radon levels in their home, the Johnson’s decided to test their house with a simple testing kit purchased at a home improvement store, something they always thought they should do but never got around to. The results came back as 11.5 picoCuries/Liter (pCi/L). The EPA maximum recommended level for radon is 4 pCi/L, above which risk for lung cancer is elevated.

Pointing at a specific cause for any type of cancer is difficult considering the uncertainties surrounding the disease, but past research correlating high radon levels and lung cancer seems to suggest a correlation between Johnson’s cancer and the high radon levels found in their 1910 farmhouse located northwest of Spring Grove. Mark grew up in this house and now continues to make it his home with his wife Kari and three children Brook, Derek, and Elizabeth.

How it works

Radon is a naturally occurring colorless, odorless, tasteless gas created from the decay of uranium in the soils and bedrock beneath us. All rock contains at least small quantities of uranium. Rocks such as the sedimentary limestones and sandstones that characterize the local geology can contain more concentrated levels of uranium, up to one hundred times as much as other types of bedrock.

Over time, uranium in these rocks naturally decays, emitting radon gas. Slowly, radon gas rises through the soils and is dispersed into the atmosphere. As a result, radon is present outdoors but in small, safe levels. Concentrated radon in enclosures, such as underground mines, caves, or even our homes, however, can cause lung cancer according to a growing body of research. This connection was discovered when it was noticed that underground uranium miners died of lung cancer at high rates. Locally, the karst geology, characterized by caves, sinkholes and fractured rock, creates conduits for increased radon movement to the earth’s surface and into our homes.

Radon gas makes its way into homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, around loose fitted pipes, or even through semi-permeable materials to gaseous substances such as block, brick, or concrete walls. Anywhere there is even a small opening between the home and the soil there exists potential for radon entry. Once inside, radon accumulates in higher concentrations in homes due to restricted ventilation, especially in the winter time when homes are sealed up tight for heat efficiency.

Decaying radon gives off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled in the lungs, these particles can damage the cells lining the lung, spurring cancerous growth. It is estimated between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths occurring each year nationwide are the fault of radon exposure.

The average radon level for Houston County homes is estimated to be 5.5 pCi/L. According to sample testing, half of all Houston County homes are likely to be above the level of 4 pCi/L. In other nearby counties conditions are even worse. Average indoor radon levels are estimated to be 7.6 pCi/L in Allamakee Cty., 8.1 pCi/L in Winneshiek Cty., 5.6 pCi/L in Winona Cty., 6 pCi/L in Olmsted Cty., 3.8 pCi/L in La Crosse Cty., and 9.9 pCi/L in Fillmore Cty. while the national average is a meager 1.3 pCi/L.

At 10 pCi/L, approximately the conditions recorded in the Johnson household, it is estimated 18 of every 1,000 people exposed will develop lung cancer.

Testing for radon

Testing for radon is simple and periodically encouraged by health officials but regularly one of those things people put off. Heather Myhre, of Houston County’s public health department, said “now is a great time to test while the ground is frozen, it forces the gas to find a different way to escape to the atmosphere so it does come into the home. We’ve been offering testing here for 4-5 years. We have a grant right now that allows us to do testing free of charge.”

Myhre explained, “any home is in danger.” That newer homes are safe is a “misconception we hear quite a bit. We encourage anybody to test regardless of the age of their home.”

Although discovering if your house has high levels of radon is straightforward, mitigation measures are a little more challenging and costly.

Jeff Engen, of Engen Construction in Mabel, is a licensed radon mitigator in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. He estimates radon mitigation costs to range from $1,200 to $2,800 depending on the scope of the project. In the three dozen or so radon projects he has worked on, he has seen houses display radon levels in the 20s and 30s and lots of times they are at least above 10 pCi/L.

In correcting a radon problem, Engen explained the goal is to “create a negative pressure under the floor so you’re sucking radon ou from underneath the house,” and then, “to route that radon from underneath the home to the outside atmosphere.” After mitigation measures are put in place, he returns to retest the house and if radon levels are still not satisfactory, he will alter the system until he achieves the goal.

No legislation currently requires mitigation for homes with high levels of radon but recently a bill was passed through the legislature requiring new homes to have radon mitigation measures installed during construction, a cheaper alternative to installing the systems after-the-fact.

Johnson remains hopeful

With an estimated 15 percent survival rate, lung cancer is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Even the chances chemotherapy will work right away are as low as 30 percent.

Despite the less than optimistic odds, Johnson remains hopeful.

“We met with the doctor yesterday and had some good news; it is starting to shrink,” he stated with a hopeful smile, referring to the cancerous growth in his lungs. “That’s a good thing,” he nodded. This news is the first sign of hope in more than two months.

After two complete rounds of chemotherapy, his coughing has also disappeared, another good sign, doctors suggest.

In explaining how he remains so optimistic he stated, “Like anything you always worry. I hope that being young is on my side. There’s so many things out there they can do for you. They have such a vast variety of drugs, it’s hard not to be optimistic. When you have a family you have to be positive. After having a good report yesterday, I’m at least heading the direction I should be going.”

Initially the news was hard on everyone in the family, but Mark said, “they seem to be handling it pretty well after the initial shock. We’re excited to hear good news for once.” Staying busy is key to remaining optimistic and attending all of his children’s basketball games from day one has been a good distraction.

Mark and Kari are currently retesting their home for radon to verify the initial results. Regardless of the outcome, Mark intends to take some sort of mitigation action. “If the possibility is there (for dangerous radon levels) I certainly want to do something for the rest of my family, to make sure they’re safe,” asserted Johnson.

“I would highly suggest everyone should test for radon,” Johnson encouraged. “We are in an area known for it. Definitely get it checked out to make sure. Everybody should be looking into it to be on the safe side.”

“Go ahead and do it,” was Myhre’s encouragement to the homeowner, echoing the sentiments of Johnson. “We have the resources here and they are free. Do it while you are thinking about it. Hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised and it’s okay.”

“A lot of times you take life for granted,” Johnson said reflecting on the position he finds himself in. “You make time for those things you didn’t have time for before. Some of the things you thought were important aren’t really.”

“It’s really nice to have all the support you get from community, friends, and family. We are very fortunate to be in a small community where people really do care,” Johnson gratefully added.

And if there is one thing small towns are best at, it’s supporting community members in times of need.

For more information regarding radon testing or mitigation, contact the Houston County Public Health office at 725-5810 or stop by to pick up your free test kit. They will also be hosting informational meetings on radon Tues., Feb. 17 from 4-6 p.m. in the courthouse basement and Tues., Feb. 24 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Prince of Peace Church in La Crescent.