By Ashley Sibik, Environmental Health Specialist, Lake County Public Health
With winter upon us, we are doing all we can to keep the heat in our homes and minimize drafts. We consider warmth and comfort, but how many of us consider changes to our indoor air quality? Sealing up the house for heat efficiency may also mean sealing in radon gas, and the only way to know is to do a test.
What is radon? It is a gas that comes from the soil, a natural result of the decay of uranium. It has no color or odor, making it impossible for you to detect on your own. Radon enters through cracks in floors and walls, floor-wall joints, crawl spaces, and sump pits. Even if you don’t have a basement, radon can enter your home. When our homes are sealed for the winter, the gas can accumulate indoors.
Radon in Minnesota: Radon is common here. In fact, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota radon levels are more than three times higher than the rest of the United States. Two in five homes will test high.
Radon health risks: When inhaled, radon can cause damage to the lungs. It is the number one cause of lung cancer for people who do not smoke, and the number two cause for smokers. Combining smoking with high levels of radon exposure increases the cancer risk further.
Testing for radon: MDH recommends everyone test their home for radon every two to five years and after home improvement projects are completed. Luckily, testing is easy! You can even do it yourself if you own or lease the building you are testing.
Free test kits: Cook County residents can pick up a free test kit, while supplies last, from the Cook County Land Services Department. If elevated radon levels are found, the Healthy Homes program at Cook County Public Health can help residents navigate available remediation resources. Lake County residents can get a free test kit, while supplies last, from the following locations:
• Human Services Center in Two Harbors
• Mary Mac building in Silver Bay
• Claire Nelson Center in Finland
• Fall Lake Township Building
Lake County, in partnership with MDH, can help you navigate remediation resources. Kits can also be ordered through mn.radon.com, or by scanning the QR code below.
