January is National Radon Action Month, and the Washtenaw County Health Department is urging residents to test their homes for radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas commonly found at elevated levels in local homes due to area geology. Low-cost radon test kits are available for $5 through the end of January from the county’s Environmental Health Division; the price increases to $15 after January.
Radon can enter homes through foundation cracks, crawl spaces, and openings around drains and sump pumps, building up to unsafe levels indoors. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States. Because homes are sealed tighter and people spend more time indoors, winter is the best time to test.
“Every home should be tested. [Radon] has no warning signs,” said Kristen Schweighoefer, environmental health director. “Testing is the only way to know your risk.”…