In honor of January being National Radon Action Month, Oakland County encourages residents to take action and test their homes for radon by offering radon test kits half-price ($5) all month.
What is radon you ask? Radon is a naturally occurring invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.
“Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure, since you cannot see, smell, or taste radon,” said Calandra Green, health officer for Oakland County Health Division.
The gas can sometimes get into homes through cracks in floors or walls and can accumulate, becoming a health hazard. Because of that, The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) encourages radon testing every two years as levels may fluctuate.
Oakland County’s Health Division recommends testing homes for radon gas during the winter months since windows and doors typically remain closed, allowing radon gas to collect inside and be more easily detected.
One in every four Michigan homes is expected to have radon levels that exceed the recommended federal action level. If high levels of radon are found, contact the Health Division’s Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 in Pontiac or 248-424-7191 in Southfield for more information about radon mitigation and service providers.
Radon test kits for homes are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield:
- North Oakland Health Center, 1200 Telegraph, Building 34E, Pontiac
- South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. To purchase more than 15 radon kits, please call 248-858-1312 to preorder. After January, the cost of a radon test kit will return to the regular rate of $10.
For more information on radon test kits, visit the Oakland County Health Division website. Follow along with them for more safety tips and health news on Facebook and Twitter.
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