Date Published: 01/12/2020 [Source]
January is Radon Action Month, and the Macomb County Health Department is encouraging area residents to include radon testing among their resolutions for a healthy new year by giving away free home testing kits.
Radon production occurs naturally in soil and rock. It moves upward through the soil and enters buildings through cracks and openings in the foundation floor or walls. Once it is indoors, radon can accumulate to unhealthy levels. Testing is recommended to be conducted in the wintertime for the most accurate reading in the home.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in any home; including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without a basement. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test for it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend testing all homes for radon.