Radon
JANUARY IS NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH!Conducting a radon test is easy and test kits are available at the Douglas County Public Health Unit,1316 North 14th Street Suite 324, Superior. Radon test kits in the month of January can be purchased for $5.00 |
About 1 out of 10 homes in Wisconsin has high radon levels!
You cannot smell, taste or see radon. It is a naturally occurring gas that is radioactive and can cause lung cancer. Radon forms when certain rocks break down deep in the soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing in air that comes through cracks and gaps in basements and lower levels of buildings and homes.
Radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for over 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Testing your home is the only effective way to find out if you have a radon problem. If you find elevated levels of radon, there are steps you can take to reduce the levels in your home including sealing cracks in basements or having a mitigation system installed by a certified professional.
Testing is Simple!
Radon Test kits are available various home supply and hardware stores. Test kits are also available for purchase from Douglas County Public Health (Suite 324 in the Government Center) for $8.00. See instructions for this kit.
Radon Information Resources
- Radon Fact Sheet
- Protect Your Family From Radon
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services page on Radon (general info, testing, mitigation, certified contractor list)
- CDC page on Radon
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) page on Radon
- A Citizen's Guide to Radon
Wisconsin Radon Information Center: Polk County
Serving Burnett, Douglas, Polk, and Washburn Counties
(715) 485-8500