January is Radon Action Month and the Macomb County Health Department is encouraging area residents to include radon testing among their resolutions for a healthy new year by giving away free home testing kits.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced in soil and rock. It moves upward through the soil and enters homes through any cracks and openings. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans every year. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in any home; including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without a basement. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test for it. Do not rely on your neighbor’s test results to determine your risk.
Testing is recommended every two to five years because homes settle, new cracks form in the foundation and radon levels can change. If test results indicate radon levels at or above certain levels, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends the installation of a radon mitigation system.
No-cost radon test kits are available to Macomb County residents while supplies last. To have a testing kit mailed to you, call the Macomb County Health Department at (586) 469-5236 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, or send an email to environmental.health@macombgov.org. Requests for no-cost testing kits must be received by Friday, February 4, 2022. Testing kits will not be distributed to residents at any Health Department offices or facilities.
