By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
January is National Radon Action Month, and Rice County Public Health is joining the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to encourage everyone to test their home for radon, the invisible radioactive gas found at elevated levels in many Minnesota homes. Here’s Minnesota Department of Health’s Dan Tranter:
“It is a lung carcinogen. It’s the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Unfortunately, lung cancer is still by far the leading cause of cancer deaths in our country.” – MDH’s Dan Tranter, Audio Courtesy of the Minnesota News Network
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who never smoked. Fortunately, the risk is largely preventable through testing homes and fixing radon problems. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is to test.
“About 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year are estimated (to be) caused by radon exposure in the United States. Minnesota has some of the highest radon levels in the country. We’re about three times the national average; about 40% of our homes have elevated radon.” – MDH’s Dan Tranter, Audio Courtesy of the Minnesota News Network
Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied. Test devices are usually placed in the home for 2-5 days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but testing can be done year-round. Tranter says that you should test your home at least every 5 years.
“Our main message is to test your home, if you’ve never tested your home before, now is a good time to test, because levels can be higher in the winter because our homes are closed up and we’re heating our homes” – MDH’s Dan Tranter, Audio Courtesy of the Minnesota News Network
MDH is offering test kits for $12.95. To buy a kit, visit mn.radon.com. Test kits are available at many hardware stores or directly from radon testing laboratories. Rice County residents may also stop by the Faribault office located in the lower level of the Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Third St. NW, to request a free kit.
Find more information from Rice County Public Health here.
