Date Published: 01/01/2020 [Source]
Short-term radon test kits are being offered in Ionia County in January in exchange for a non-perishable food item.
The Ionia County Health Department is exchanging the test kits throughout January in observance of National Radon Action Month, the department announced in a press release issued Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Radon is described as a "colorless, odorless, radioactive gas found naturally in the environment," according to the health department. It's the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.
Radon gas is released from rock or soil and might seep into homes through the foundation, cracks in floors and walls, or gaps around service pipes, per the health department. A high level of radon in a home can increase exposure to radiation, which increases the risk of lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates one out of 15 homes in the U.S. have elevated radon levels.