Waterford Today

Oakland County issued the following announcement on Jan. 7.

Oakland County Executive David Coulter and the Oakland County Health Division encourage residents to purchase radon test kits for only $5 this month to test their homes for the potentially harmful gas. January is National Radon Action Month, and the Health Division recommends testing homes for radon during the winter months since windows and doors typically remain closed due to cooler temperatures allowing radon gas to collect inside. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) recommends testing for radon every two years due to homes settling and new cracks forming in the foundation, potentially causing radon levels to change.

“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 test kits for homes 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

Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. To purchase more than 15 radon kits, please call 248-858-1312 to preorder. Please note that Health Division offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20. After January, the cost of a radon test kit will return to $10.

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. The gas can sometimes get into homes through cracks in floors or walls and can become a health hazard. According to EGLE, approximately 30% of homes tested in Oakland County have had elevated levels of radon.

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. Visit www.epa.gov/radon or www.oakgov.com/health for more information, or contact Nurse on Call, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.

For media inquiries only please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media and communications officer, at 248-858-1048.

Original source can be found here.