Radon is a gas that naturally occurs through the decay of uranium in the soil. While radioactive, it has no odor, taste, or color that could alert a person of its presence.
As the gas releases, it rises up into the air, becoming trapped inside of buildings after entering through construction joints and cracks in the foundation. The only way to detect how much radon is inside a building is through a test.
Approximately one out of every four homes in Michigan has elevated levels of radon, according to state data.
The Environmental Protection Agency says there are no true “safe” levels of radon. However, there will always be some present in the air. The average indoor levels should sit at around 1.3 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air).
Michigan’s Indoor Radon Specialist Leslie Smith III says elevated levels are anything that’s 4 pCi/L or higher.
“It’s a lifetime issue, radon is known to be the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smoking individuals,” Smith told WCMU. “For individuals who smoke and are exposed to radon indoors, they increase their risk many times over.”
Most people who get cancer from radon exposure will have no symptoms until it is too late, Smith said.
“That’s why it’s important that we try to encourage everyone to test their indoor air quality,” Smith continued. “To find out what the radon levels are in their home and take steps to lover their exposure.”
How do I check for elevated radon levels in my home or business?
At-home radon test kits are the easiest way for a person to check the levels inside of their home. There are both short-term and long-term versions of the test, both useful depending on what your specific needs and wants are.
Smith said it’s important to have closed house conditions (closed windows & doors, as well as making sure fireplace flues are closed when not in use and exhaust fans are off) while using a short-term test. The goal is to capture as much of the radon in the air as possible, and with only 2-7 days to do so keeping it in is important.
Long-term tests take much longer to finish, going anywhere from 90 days to a full year. With these tests, a person is able to live just as they normally would as it has more time to fully gather what is there.
For both tests, though, Smith said they need to be away from exterior walls and drafty spaces. To get the best results, you should place it in a room that you spend a lot of time in.
Short term test kits are available at many County Health Departments, MSU extension offices, and Tribal government buildings as well as online.
Throughout the month of January, many county public health departments are giving the tests away for free. During the rest of the year, they are offered at a lower cost. The best way to find out what your local department offers is to contact them directly.
To purchase a long-term test, Michigan residents can go to mi.radon.com or find an online radon laboratory that offers them.
The most important thing to remember is that radon levels can vary wildly from building to building. Your neighbor’s results could easily be the exact opposite of your own, and you cannot go off their results to figure your own, Smith said.
How does someone fix elevated levels of radon?
A building with high levels of radon will likely require repairs. This could be a mitigation system that will pull the gas from underneath the home and out into the open air, or by sealing any cracks in the home’s foundation.
Radon will always be present in all homes that are in direct contact with the ground. By going through repairs or installing mitigation systems, you can lower the risks of illness and death by reducing the amount of radon that will be present in the air.
Keeping fresh air flowing throughout the building can help temporarily, but should not be used as a permanent solution.
Resources
Michigan.Gov/Radon is the official Michigan page for all things radon. Here you can find resources to find mitigation contractors, radon professionals, and more.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has an interactive map that can give you radon test results down to a local level.
Watch this video on how to use a radon test kit.
The Michigan Radon Program can be reached directly at (800) 723-6642 or at radon@michigan.gov
