EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Several former employees of the Old Courthouse Catacombs have raised concerns about the Radon levels in the basement.
A county attorney says his research has shown that at least 20 years of exposure to high levels of radon is necessary to develop lung cancer.
The owner of the Old Courthouse Catacombs decided to move the attraction to the House of Lecter on Main Street, a few blocks away.
Radon is a natural gas that rises from the ground and enters the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse. It’s hard to say for how long.
“I don’t think anyone knows it’s ever been tested. Most of it has come up in the last year or two,” said Vanderburgh County District Attorney David Jones.
Jones says members of the Old Courthouse Foundation decided last year to have safety tests done on the building. But he also says radon testing is not required by law.
“The EPA has stated that they recommend nationwide testing in all public schools. In all schools, not just public schools, but all schools.”
Tests conducted at the Old Courthouse earlier this year found radon levels twice the EPA standard.
Ryan Gilhouser is a licensed radon protection technician.
“So we’re doing some kind of monitoring right now to find out where we think the highest levels are coming from,” Gilhouser said. “That will help us define our scope of work, and then we’ll know what we need to do to solve the problem.”
For years, thousands of people have been going through the basement on Halloween, but according to county studies, you have to be exposed to radon for a significant amount of time to develop a risk of lung cancer.
“On average, you have to be exposed to constant exposure for about 20 years to see any effect,” Jones said. “With short-term exposure, there’s nothing.”
As for those working in other parts of the building, we have been informed that elevated levels have been detected, but only one worker has been affected, and he has since been relocated.
“We don’t know of any of the people who worked there who stayed in the building for an extended period of time and had any problems,” Jones said.
A health official says that smokers and children are more susceptible to radon exposure, but people would have to be exposed to the radiation for years to develop a cancer risk.
If you have any health concerns, you should consult your doctor.
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