Radon Testing Urged For All County Homes

January is national radon action month. The USEPA has recommended that all residents test their home at least once for the presence of radon gas. If high levels of radon gas are detected, simple steps may be taken to correct the problem and make your home safe.

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas, which can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, openings around joints and pipes, and dirt floors. Radon can build to high levels inside your home, and long term exposure to these high levels of radon is a risk for lung cancer. The Surgeon General advises that, after cigarette smoke, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon combined with cigarette smoke poses an increased risk for lung cancer.

The only way to know if you have a safe level of radon inside of your home is to conduct a radon test. The test is simple, quick and inexpensive. The Fond du Lac County Health Department is currently offering short term test kits for a fee of $10.00, which includes radon information and lab fees. The kits may be picked up at the Fond du Lac County Health Department, 160 S. Macy Street, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, or want more information on radon please contact the Fond du Lac County Health Department at 920-929-3085, or visit www.lowradon.org.