January is National Radon Action Month – an opportune time for St. Clair County residents to test for radon in their homes. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk for health issues caused by radon, an invisible, odorless gas. Free radon test kits are available to residents during the month of January at the St. Clair County Health Department, 3415 28th Street in Port Huron. Radon is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of radium, found in soil and rock. Outdoors, radon is diluted by the atmosphere to safe levels. However, radon can concentrate in indoor air and lead to elevated and harmful radon levels. Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls (sump openings, crawlspaces, floor/wall joints, cracks, etc.) and can become trapped inside. Environmental Health Director, Steve Demick, encourages residents to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about radon and test their home for this gas. “Radon exposure is considered the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking,” Demick said. “Fortunately, testing is easy and high radon levels can be lowered.” “You can’t see or smell radon, so people tend to ignore the possibility that it might exist at high levels in their homes,” said Kevin McNeill, Sanitarian. “Winter is the ideal time to test for radon because the windows and doors are closed.” For more information contact the Environmental Health Division at (810) 987-5306 or visit www.scchealth.co or www.epa.gov/radon. Follow us on social media @scchdmi.
