January is National Radon Awareness Month
Monday, January 15th, 2018 -- 10:09 AM
-The Clark County Health Department wants to remind county residents that January is National Radon Awareness Month. Federal estimates identify radon gas exposure as the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States among non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas. Radon is not an irritant to the eyes or nose, nor is it an allergen. You can’t smell, see or taste it. The only risk from radon in air is lung cancer, after many years of breathing it in. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General, radon causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year among people who have never smoked. So it is important to test your home for radon gas to help reduce your risk of developing lung cancer later in life. Radon test kits are available from local hardware stores and with the Clark County Health Department.
The EPA estimates that nearly 1 in 15 homes in the United States have elevated radon levels. Wisconsin data indicates that between five and ten percent of homes have elevated levels of radon in the air of usable living spaces. In 2017, six out of fourteen homes (43%) in Clark County tested above the safe level of radon exposure. Radon can be controlled in any home. There are more than 60 radon mitigation contractors in Wisconsin that are nationally certified to install radon control systems. The Clark County Health Department has short term radon kits available for $6.00. Please call 715-743-5105 for more information.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.