Staying Well Column for 4/27/09

Check for Radon
By Genesee County Health Department Staff

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., causing approximately 21,000 deaths each year. All of these deaths are preventable. The Genesee County Health Department encourages area residents to check the radon gas level in their homes as an essential first step to prevent lung cancer caused by radon.

Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that seeps into homes from surrounding soil. It has no immediate health symptoms but is a danger to your family's health. When radon gas becomes trapped in homes, it can build up to harmful levels. The risk is especially great during cold weather, when we spend more time indoors with windows and doors closed, possibly breathing unhealthy levels of radon.

One out of eight homes in Michigan has elevated levels of radon according to a statewide survey. In Genesee County, as many as one out of 5 homes may have a radon level above the EPA recommended action guideline of 4 pico curies per liter of air.

Radon levels vary considerably from house to house. The only way to know if your home has radon gas is to test for it. It is easy to check your home for radon. Test kits are available year round from the Health Department for $6.00 each. Some hardware stores, home improvement centers, and other local retailers sell the do-it-yourself test kits. Professional testing services are also available, though they are most often used for testing as part of a real estate transaction. If elevated radon levels are found, they can be reduced to save levels with various ventilation techniques.

Citizens interested in finding out more about radon should contact the Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3603, or log onto www.michigan.gov/deq/radon or www.gchd.us.