Test your home
The old saying, ‘what you don’t know can’t hurt you’ certainly doesn’t apply when it comes to the presence of radon in your home. According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), radon invades nearly one in eight Michigan homes; could yours be “the one?”
Radon, the silent killer, has no warning signs; it can’t be seen, smelled or tasted, and contrary to popular belief, does not cause headaches, nausea, or fatigue. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and results in more than 21,000 new lung cancers each year (more than 600 of those in Michigan alone).
This naturally occurring radioactive gas is found in almost any kind of soil or rock. It travels through the ground to the air above, and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation, floor or walls (sump openings; crawlspaces; floor/wall joints; space around plumbing, wiring, or ductwork; etc.). Any home – old or new – may have a radon problem.
“There is only one way to know for sure if your home has an unsafe level of radon,” said Robert Graham, Medical Director for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD), “and that is to test, and now is the ideal time.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) winter is the best time to test for radon because doors and windows are kept shut so the radon level isn’t diluted by the introduction of fresh air.
It is recommended that every residence be tested for radon by taking a short-term test first. Short-term test kits may be obtained at MMDHD free-of-charge and take only a few minutes to administer.
If the result is four picocuries per liter of air (4 pCi/l) or higher, you should follow up with a long-term test to measure the year-round average. Long-term kits may be purchased at most hardware stores and are also available at MMDHD for $24.00.
If unsafe radon levels are found in your home it is very important that you take immediate action. The DEQ strongly suggests that people use a trained and certified radon mitigation (reduction) contractor who will guarantee results below 4 pCi/l.
To obtain a radon test kit, or request a list of local certified radon remediation contractors, contact MMDHD at:
Clinton County Branch Office: 1307 E Townsend Road, St. Johns – Phone: 989-227-3107
Gratiot County Branch Office: 151 Commerce Drive, Ithaca – Phone: 989-875-1020.
Montcalm County Branch Office: 615 N State Street, Stanton – Phone: 989-831-3636.
For additional information, visit MMDHDs website at www.mmdhd.org, the EPAs website at www.epa.gov, or the MDEQs website at www.michigan.gov/deq.