Testing and Controlling Home Radon is a Wise Investment
January is National Radon Month. Radon testing is a small investment that can pay big dividends for homeowners. The Iowa County Health Department has FREE radon test kits available in January. Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that is naturally present in the ground and enters houses through their foundations. Breathing radon for extended times increases the risk of lung cancer. Since radon is widespread and concentrations vary greatly from home to home, every home having contact with the ground should be tested.
If your home’s radon level is elevated, the risk of lung cancer and potential loss of a loved one can be serious. However, a home’s radon level can be substantially reduced. The cost for reducing radon in your home is about $500, and the investment could make a home easier to sell.
More than 50 radon mitigation contractors in Wisconsin are nationally certified and install highly-effective systems. Thousands of systems are installed in existing homes in Wisconsin each year. When having a new home built, features that reduce radon entry can be included for little added cost.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is responsible for several thousand preventable lung cancer deaths each year. State statistics indicate that between five and ten percent of the homes in Wisconsin have elevated airborne concentrations of radon in significantly occupied spaces.
For comprehensive radon information, go the department’s website at www.lowradon.com. Call the Iowa County Health Department at (608) 930-9870 or stop in at their office at 303 W. Chapel Street to pick up a free radon kit.
| Iowa County Health Department 303 W. Chapel St. Dodgeville, WI 53533 608 930-9870 |
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Revised December 7, 2010 |