January is National Radon Action Month

Did you know that one in 10 homes in Wisconsin have high radon levels? Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that can cause cancer. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. Over a period of time, radon exposure can cause lung cancer. In fact, it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. The good news is if you have high levels of radon in your home, you can fix it.

You may be wondering; how does radon get into your home? Radon occurs through the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. It can leak into your home from the ground through cracks and openings. Since radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless the only way to know if it is present is to test your home. 

The best time to test your home is during the winter months when doors and windows are not open.

Test kits are easy to use and available at the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD).

For the month of January, OCHD is offering a special discounted price on radon test kits. Test kits will be available at OCHD until Jan. 31 for $13. Simply stop by the office anytime Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and ask for a radon test kit. No appointment is needed.

If your home is found to have high radon levels, there are over 100 certified professionals throughout Wisconsin who can help you. Professionals use a technique called “radon mitigation.” This approach uses a pipe and fan system to route radon gas from underneath your home to the outside, preventing radon from entering your home. So even though you can’t see radon and you can’t smell it, you can protect yourself and your family from it.

For more information on radon, visit www.lowradon.org.

You can also call the Oneida County Health Department at 715-369-6111.