January 6, 2025

January marks Radon Action Month, a time to raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas. Radon can't be seen, smelled, or tasted, but high levels of radon gas may be present in your home, increasing you and your family’s risk of lung cancer. As the cold weather rolls in, individuals and families are spending more time at home, making it even more important to check for high radon levels.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released in the air from rocks and soil. Radon can be found in the air outside and can get inside homes through cracks and other holes in the foundation, where it can build up. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers.

In Michigan, 1 in every 4 homes is expected to have radon levels higher than the recommended action level. The only way to know if a home has high radon levels is to test it. Testing is recommended every two years because homes settle, new cracks form in the foundation and radon levels can change. If radon levels are at or above the action level, it’s important for your and your family’s health to take steps to reduce it.

Free, do-it-yourself radon test kits are available to residents of Barry and Eaton counties during January. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and supplies are limited. There is a limit of one kit per address. After using it at home, residents should send it to the lab for testing using the pre-paid packaging. Residents can pick up a kit at one of the below locations:

• Hastings: BEDHD Office, 330 W. Woodlawn Ave. (269) 945-9516
• Charlotte: BEDHD Office, 1033 Healthcare Dr. (517) 543-2430
• Lansing: Delta Township Hall, Assessing Department, 7710 W. Saginaw Hwy. (517) 323-8520
• Delton: Delton District Library, 330 N. Grove St. (269) 623-8040

For more information about radon or radon testing, visit www.epa.gov/radon.