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Oakland County Encourages Home Radon Testing During National Radon Action Month
Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 27, 2023 – Radon test kits are available for half price at Oakland County Health Division during National Radon Action Month in January. For $5, Oakland County homeowners can protect their health by testing their homes for radon.
“Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, Oakland County health officer. “Since you cannot see, smell, or taste radon, testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk of radon exposure.”
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, and odorless gas. It can sometimes get into homes through cracks in floors or walls and can accumulate, becoming a health hazard. According to Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), approximately 30 percent of homes tested in Oakland County have had elevated levels of radon. The only way to know if a home has high radon levels is to test.
The Health Division recommends testing homes for radon gas during the winter months when windows and doors typically remain closed, allowing radon gas to collect inside and be more easily detected. EGLE encourages testing every two years as homes settle and new cracks form in the foundation that may cause radon levels to change.
If high levels of radon are found, contact the Health Division’s Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 in Pontiac or 248-424-7191 in Southfield for more information about radon mitigation and service providers.
Radon test kits are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield:
- North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 34E, Pontiac
- South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Health Division offices are open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. To purchase more than 15 radon kits, please call 248-858-1312 to pre-order. Note that Health Division offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1 for the New Year’s Day holiday and Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After January, the cost of a radon test kit will return to $10.
For more information, visit https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials-management/indoor-radon, www.oakgov.com/health, or contact Nurse on Call (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 800-848-5533 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).
For media inquiries only please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media and communications officer, at 248-858-1048. |
