Free radon kits are available through Oakland County\u2019s health department.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cRadon is a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking,\u201d said Kate Guzman, the county health division\u2019s health officer. \u201cSince 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tests are best done during the winter months, because windows and doors are typically closed and it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
January is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Radon Action Month.<\/p>\n
The state\u2019s Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy department recently published a four-part podcast hosted by Jerry Hodak with Leslie Smith III, EGLE\u2019s indoor radon specialist, to help people understand radon<\/a>, its risks and how to get rid of it. The series is on EGLE\u2019s YouTube page.<\/p>\n