January is National Radon Action Month – a fitting time to test for radon, a health risk that may be present in many Livingston County residences. This January, Livingston County Health Department (LCHD) is offering free radon test kits at their Environmental Health Division office, located at 2300 East Grand River Ave. in Howell.
About radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that can build up in the air of homes and buildings. It comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls. When radon builds up to high levels in the home, it can be harmful to people’s health over time. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are related to radon.
“About 40% of homes in Livingston County have high radon levels, according to a study by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy,” said Heather Blair, environmental health director at LCHD. “You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, and it doesn’t cause any warning symptoms like headaches or nausea. The only way to know if radon levels are high in your home is to test.”
Where to get a radon test kit
LCHD has short-term radon test kits available free of charge throughout January. Test kits can be picked up at LCHD’s Environmental Health Division office, located at 2300 East Grand River Ave. in Howell.
Free kits may also be picked up at participating local city and township offices, while supplies last:
• City of Brighton
• Brighton Township
• Cohoctah Township
• Conway Township
• Deerfield Township
• Village of Fowlerville
• Genoa Township
• Green Oak Township
• Hamburg Township
• Hartland Township
• City of Howell
• Iosco Township
• Marion Township
• Oceola Township
• Village of Pinckney
• Putnam Township
• Tyrone Township
• Unadilla Township
Test kits are free at LCHD throughout January but will be available for purchase the remainder of the year. Residents can also buy radon test kits at local hardware stores and home improvement centers.
After testing
The EPA recommends fixing homes with radon levels higher than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) to prevent the build-up of the gas indoors. Installing a radon mitigation system in the home can reduce radon levels. These systems can be installed by qualified contractors.
More information
For more radon information, contact LCHD at (517) 546-9858, or the Michigan Indoor Radon Program at 1-800-RADON-GAS. Radon information can also be accessed online at https://milivcounty.gov/environmental-health/air-quality/radon/ or www.michigan.gov/radon.
