January is Radon Action Month, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about radon. Radon is a gas that forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium in the ground. It can seep into homes through foundations, floors, and walls, and once inside, it can accumulate to levels that pose serious health risks. High radon levels can damage lung tissue and increase your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and an estimated 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer caused by radon exposure.
The tricky part? You can’t see, smell, or taste it, so the only way to know if you have it in your home is to test for it. Because it’s so sneaky, radon often goes unnoticed until the levels become dangerously high.
Radon exposure is a significant concern in Wisconsin; roughly one in ten homes has high levels. In Green County specifically, over half of all tests show high radon levels, which is why testing is so important. Radon levels in Green County vary, and your home could have high levels even if your neighbor’s are low. Without testing, you could be living in a house with high radon levels without ever knowing it.
A simple and affordable step to stay safe this month is to test your home for radon. There are two main types of tests. Short-term tests are the quickest option, and usually measure radon levels for 2 to 4 days. Long-term tests take a minimum of 91 days, and can provide a more comprehensive picture of your home’s average year-round radon level because radon levels can vary from season to season.
If testing shows that your home has elevated radon levels, mitigation systems can be installed to reduce radon levels in your home. These systems are effective and can bring radon levels down to safer levels. If you have questions about radon testing or your home radon test results, you can call our South-Central Radon Information Center at 608-243-0392.
Green County residents can stop by our Green County Public Health office at N3152 WI-81 in Monroe to pick up a short-term test kit. We have limited free test kits available. Call us today to reserve your short-term test kit at 608-328-9390. Testing is easy to do yourself, but you can also hire a certified professional if you prefer.
Radon Action Month is a reminder to take simple steps today to prevent serious health problems in the future. Testing your home is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. By acting now, you can make sure your home is safe.
— Ellie Lombardo is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at elombardo@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
