Date Published: 01/04/2020 [Source]
January is National Radon Action Month, and local health officials are encouraging residents to get their homes tested for the potentially dangerous gas. It is a good time to test for the invisible, odorless gas since families are spending more time indoors during the winter months. The Health Department is offering free short-term radon test kits now through January 31st.
Radon comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It can enter buildings through openings and can become trapped leading to elevated and harmful levels. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States with an estimated 21,100 lung cancer deaths each year that are radon-related. One in eight Michigan homes are likely to contain elevated levels.