January is National Radon Action Month, and the Oconto County Health Department urges individuals to test their homes for radon.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Overall, it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.
“Research shows that radon causes more lung cancer among non-smokers than even second-hand tobacco smoke,” said Dr. Henry Anderson, chief medical officer and state epidemiologist. “Fortunately, this cause of lung cancer is largely preventable; the first step is to test your home. If elevated radon is found, it can be easily and effectively corrected.”
Radon is a gas that has no taste, smell or color. It can be found all over the U.S. and Wisconsin and can get into any type of building.
People are subject to the most radon exposure in their homes, since that is where they spend most of their time. The only way to know how much radon is in a home is to measure it with a test.
Oconto County Public Health is offering free radon test kits to Oconto County residents in 2016. Call Oconto County Public Health at 920-834-7000 to request a free test kit.
One free test kit per household will be available from January-March and October-December. The free test kits can be picked up from Oconto County Public Health, mailed or picked up from the Mountain Ambulance Garage from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first Wednesday of the above months.
“Radon concentrations vary greatly from home to home, so any home, no matter its age, should be tested,” Anderson said.
More than 80 radon mitigation contractors in Wisconsin are nationally certified and install radon control systems. Thousands of systems are installed in existing homes in Wisconsin each year. New construction should include features to reduce radon entry recommended by the standards for green building from the National Association of Home Builders.
More information about radon is available at www.lowradon.org or by calling the Northcentral Radon Information Center at 715-261-1900.
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