Free radon kits are available through Oakland County’s health department.
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that develops underground as bedrock decays. The gas can seep into some homes through cracks in floors or walls and can accumulate. Radon is considered a risk factor for lung cancer and high levels are found in an estimated one-in-four Michigan homes.
“Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking,” said Kate Guzman, the county health division’s health officer. “Since you cannot see, smell, or taste radon, testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure.”
Tests are best done during the winter months, because windows and doors are typically closed and it’s easier to detect radon levels. Tests are encouraged every two years, because homes settle and new cracks in the foundation that may cause radon levels to change.
The county is providing free radon tests from the health centers at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34E, in Pontiac and the South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield. The offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Monday, Jan. 19, when county offices are closed to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
People picking up five or more tests must call ahead to ensure they are available. The test kits are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
January is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Radon Action Month.
The state’s Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy department recently published a four-part podcast hosted by Jerry Hodak with Leslie Smith III, EGLE’s indoor radon specialist, to help people understand radon, its risks and how to get rid of it. The series is on EGLE’s YouTube page.
To learn more, call the health division’s environmental service at (248) 858-1312 in Pontiac or (248) 424-7191 in Southfield for details or visit www.epa.gov/radon or www.oakgov.com/health for more information, or contact Oakland Connects Helpline, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 800-848-5533.