Date Published: 01/20/2020 [Source]
January is Radon Action Month, and Cass County and Crow Wing County have radon testing kits available. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends all homes in Minnesota be tested for radon.
To obtain a free test kit in Crow Wing County, go to the Crow Wing County Land Services Department customer service counter located at 322 Laurel St., Suite 15, Brainerd, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. There is a limit of one radon kit per household. Testing is easy and only takes three to seven days.
"It's the only way to know if a home has an elevated level of radon, which can cause lung cancer," officials said in a news release.
Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that occurs naturally in Minnesota soils and can enter homes primarily through cracks and openings in basement or foundation floors and walls. The only way for residents to know if their home has radon is to test. A home should be tested at least every five years. It is important to perform a radon test after buying a new heating system or adding central air conditioning.
The health department estimates two in five existing Minnesota homes have radon levels posing a large health risk over many years of exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and more than 21,000 deaths are attributed to radon each year.
Radon exposure, however, is largely preventable. Homeowners should test their homes to see if they have elevated radon levels. Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently occupied.
If a home has dangerous levels, a homeowner can have a system installed to reduce radon from their indoor air. In homes with levels over 4 pCi/L, homeowners should consider verification testing and possible mitigation. The final step is to encourage friends, family and coworkers to test their own homes for radon.