Michigan Health Officials Push for Radon Testing in Homes

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on May 15, 2007

Rodney Blanchard of the Monroe County Health Department said between 20 to 35 percent of homes in Monroe County tested as containing high levels of radon. Lenawee, Washtenaw and other counties have even higher occurrences.

The colorless and odorless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation, said Michigan Department of Environmental Quality radon specialist Sue Hendershott. The more a person is exposed to radon, the higher their risk is for developing lung cancer. Symptoms don't develop until someone is diagnosed with the disease.

Radon can be found in soil and rock, and seeps into houses through cracks in foundations and walls. The gas can easily accumulate to unhealthy levels, or four picocuries a liter, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Earlier this year, 560 of the 2,100 Monroe County home testing samples showed high levels of radon. However, there are questions as to whether the tests represent a valid sample since it is not known if they include multiple same-home samples.

Blanchard said residents should play it safe and test their homes for the harmful gas. The Monroe County Health Department is giving out free test kits year round, which include postage and lab fees.

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