Hidden Danger?

JEFFERSON COUNTY, West Virginia (WUSA)--Residents in one West Virginia community thought they bought homes for life. Instead, they worry these houses may cost them their lives.

"This neighborhood is the neighborhood I have admired," says homeonwer Darioush Hashem Zadehirani.

"It was just gorgeous," says Christine Edwards.

They are talking about the subdivision called Locust Hills in their Jefferson County community,

"All of us were feeling bad," says Rebecca Dillow

"I would go back to Iraq, I would go back to the base I was on, I felt really safe there," says Kevin Berens.

One hundred Jefferson County residents say they were unknowingly exposed to an odorless, colorless, killer: radon. Now they want their day in court.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inhaled radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. It usually enters houses through the basement.

Attorney Andrew Skinner represents the families. He is also a plaintiff in a lawsuit the families have filed against he builder.

"The rules required Richmond American Homes to give us some protection," says Skinner.

The families are suing Richmond American Homes, the builder, for failing to install radon removal systems they say work.

The EPA says this part of West Virginia is a Zone One area. This means you can expect high levels of radon. In most Zone One areas builders are required to install a passive radon mitigation system.

"We were told by the salesman that there was no need to get a radon test in this house because we had a radon system," says Rebecca Dillow.

In a written statement, Richmond American Homes tells 9NEWS NOW it's committed to providing high quality homes and service. They deny the allegations in the lawsuit. 9NEWS NOW asked the builder for an interview; however, they said they prefer to respond through the judicial system.

"This pipe was never fully installed," says a contractor hired by the plaintiffs.

The families hired private contractors to test their houses for radon and check the installed mitigation systems. Their attorneys say a video taken of the check shows fake radon pipes in house after house. Pipes that were supposed to suck radon out of the houses.

"It goes into the pipe and it couldn't because the pipe didn't go down into the gravel," says Skinner.

Which meant the radon just kept building up in their homes say the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Their tests show levels as high as 18.1. The EPA recommended limit is 4.

"I trusted this company and now I have to worry everyday, what did I do to my children?" says Alexandra Torres.

Mirta Kober wonders what years of exposure has done to her body. Doctors found a nodule on her right lung. While doctors are not sure whether the nodule is related to radon exposure, they are screening her every six months.

In Virginia and Maryland there are areas where high levels of radon exist.

To protect yourself, before you purchase a house, make sure you have a radon test done. Make sure you see the results yourself.

If you have questions about radon in your current home, have it tested.

The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested. You can test your home yourself or hire a professional.

The EPA says you should fix your home if you have a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more.

Radon test kits are available from the National Safety Council (or call 1-800-SOS-RADON). Some home improvement stores sell test kits. To find a qualified testing or mitigation contractor, contact your state radon office or either of the national private radon programs.