You can’t see, taste or smell radon, but the radioactive gas can kill. And it could be in your home. That’s why the Kent County Health Department is offering free radon testing kits to residents.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as national Radon Action Month.
“Radon is colorless, tasteless and odorless. And there’s really no short-term health effects. Radon kind of affects you in the long-term.”
Brendan Earl is the Supervising Sanitarian with the Kent County Health Department.
“January is national Radon action month. So, our goal is to get the word out about Radon. Michigan actually has high levels of Radon overall.”
In fact, Earl says the State of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy or EGLE, which analyzes the test kits, says 26 % of the test kits they receive, come back with high levels of Radon. That’s one reason the Kent County Health Department is offering free radon test kits to Kent County residents, while they last. Next to smoking, the U.S. Surgeon general says radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 20-thousand Americans every year. Earl says KCHD recommends that all homes be tested for radon every few years.
“We have these free test kits that you can pick up. Once you have it, it’s a short test. Between 30 and 90 days. It’s passive. It’s really just an envelope you hang in your house. Most of the time it’s your finished basement.”
Testing is the only way to know if radon is present in your home. If your test is positive, options include doing some repeat testing and possible remediation. Earl says the health department can help guide you. If you have any questions, you can go to accesskent.com, where they have more information on Radon.
