FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 20, 2007 KILL DATE: January 31, 2008
CONTACT: ROD MCNEILL
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITARIAN
GENESEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
PHONE: 810-257-3603
FAX: 810-257-3125
January is National Radon Action Month
The Genesee County Health Department encourages area
residents to check the radon gas levels in their homes during National Radon
Action Month. The U.S. Surgeon General 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. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
has proclaimed that January 2008 is Radon Action Month.
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.
Elevated levels of radon have been detected in some homes in just about
every township in Genesee County - 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.
