Radon Action Month

Michigan Radon Action Month is January, and this year it seems to have passed by without a lot of attention. Radon gives off radiation as it deteriorates. As a gas, Radon is easily inhaled, and tends to attach itself to dust and other particulates in the air. Once Radon enters the lungs, radioactive solids are formed as the gas deteriorates. As these solids sit in the lungs, they give off radiation, which can alter the makeup of lung cells, thereby causing cancer. The only way to know if your home has elevated Radon levels is to test for Radon. There are many ways to do this. Some methods are free, such as procuring test canisters from your local health department, exposing them as directed, and sealing them and sending them to a lab for analysis. For more reliable tests, professional testing can be done. This typically costs between $95.00 and $130.00, depending on the testing agency and method. If you have not tested your home for Radon, please consider doing so. It could save your life.