January is Radon Action Month. Radon is a radioactive gas and is produced through natural decomposition in soil. The gas can migrate from the ground and into basements and entire buildings.
Radon is second only to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer and is considered to be a leading environmental culprit for cancer deaths in the nation. With many people setting up home offices in the basement or elsewhere throughout their homes during the pandemic, as well as being home more than ever before, it is important to know the risk in every home.
There is no way to know if there is radon in a home without testing. Radon testing should be done every two to five years. Test kits are available at hardware and home improvement stores. If radon is detected, mitigation systems, which circulate the contaminated air out of the house quickly, can be installed. At least one quarter of all homes in Michigan are estimated to have radon levels above the acceptable limit.
More information and a link to obtain a test kit can be found at Michigan.gov/radon.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
