Radon Tests Urged for All Homes During Radon Action Month

January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that comes from the ground. Radon can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, openings around joints or pipes and through dirt floors. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon is a risk factor for lung cancer. The only way to know the level of radon in your home is to test for it. Get your home tested this month.
The U.S. Surgeon General advises that exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking cigarettes. Smoking combined with radon exposure puts people at an even higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Radon levels vary among geographic locations, in some areas of Green County these levels are high. In the 53566 zip code, which includes Monroe, 63.7% of homes tested for radon had levels over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended limit. Community members can view this data and data for other zip codes on this interactive map from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://arcg.is/1q9Hna0.
The EPA recommends that all residents test their home at least once for radon. This month Green County Public Health is offering free radon test kits, while supplies last. To get a test kit, community members can call Green County Public Health at (608) 328-9390 to schedule a time to pick up their kit. Radon test kits are also available for purchase at many hardware stores and online.
Homes with high levels of radon can be fixed. Radon mitigation systems use a pipe and fan to route radon out from underneath your home to the outside, which prevents radon from entering your home. There are many certified professionals located in southern Wisconsin who can install a radon mitigation system if your home has a high level of radon.
To learn more about radon mitigation, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm.
To stay up to date on all things Green County Public Health, please monitor the Green County Public Health website at https://greencountywi.org/192/Public-Health and Facebook page.