Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

DATE:   January 3, 2006                          KILL DATE:  January 31, 2006

CONTACT:        DOROTHY GONZALES, R.S.

                        ENVIRONMENTAL SANITARIAN

                        GENESEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

PHONE:            810-257-3603

FAX:                 810-257-3125

            The Genesee County Health Department announces today it is encouraging area residents to check the radon gas levels in their homes during National Radon Action Month. The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona has issued a national health advisory on the risks of breathing radon gas in our homes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. , causing approximately 21,000 deaths each year. 

 Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that seeps into homes from surrounding soil.  It has no immediate health symptoms. When radon gas becomes trapped in homes, it can be harmful at elevated levels. During cold weather we spend more time indoors with windows and doors closed, potentially breathing unhealthy levels of radon.  

 A statewide survey indicates that elevated levels of radon would be expected in one out of eight homes in Michigan . In some counties, as many as 45% of the homes could have radon levels above the EPA recommended action guideline of 4 pico curies per liter of air. 

 Radon levels vary considerably from house to house. The only way to know if your home has radon gas is to test for it.  It is easy to check your home for radon. Test kits are available year round from the Health Department for $6.00 each. During the month of January, however, the kits are available at no charge. Some hardware stores, home improvement centers, and other local retailers sell the do-it-yourself test kits. Professional testing services are also available, though they are most often used for testing as part of a real estate transaction.  If elevated levels are found, they can be reduced with various ventilation techniques.

 County residents are urged to pick up a free test kit from the Genesee County Health Department during normal business hours through the month of January.  The Health Department is located at 630 S. Saginaw Street in Flint . 

 Citizens interested in finding out more about radon can contact the Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3603, or log onto www.michigan.gov/deq/radon or www.gchd.us .

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