Know your radon exposure risk- test for radon with a free test kit
Free radon test kits are available at the Midland County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) in observance of National Radon Action Month (January).
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas with no smell, color, or taste. Radon can enter a home and become concentrated in confined air spaces such as household basements. When inhaled, radon gas can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. In the United States, it is estimated that radon exposure causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
In Michigan, it is estimated that one in four homes have elevated radon levels. “The good news is that radon exposure is preventable, but the only way to know if radon is entering your home is to test,” shares Steve Stoddard, Environmental Health Director at the MCDPH.
Three steps you can take this January during National Radon Action Month:
1. Test your home for radon. The test is simple and recommended every 2 years since homes settle, new cracks can form in foundation, and radon levels can change.
2. Learn about radon. Visit the MCDPH Environmental Health- Radon website (https://midlandcountymi.gov/index.php?section=EH-Radon), or www.Michigan.gov/radon for more information.
3. Encourage family and friends to test their home for radon.
Within Midland County, if a radon test is submitted and test results show elevated radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L, an environmental health professional with the MCDPH will contact you to discuss recommended protective measures.
Claim your FREE radon test kit during normal business hours Monday-Friday 8:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00 pm at the Midland County Department of Public Health, located on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building, at 220 W. Ellsworth Street.
The mission of the Midland County Department of Public Health is to promote and protect the public’s health through health promotion and disease prevention. Our vision is that Midland County will be a place where every person has a high-quality life and well-being.
You can contact the MCDPH by phone at 989-832-6380 or e-mail the MCDPH Environmental Health Division at ehinfo@co.midland.mi.us. We invite community members to follow us on Facebook and visit our
This article was shared from Midland County Department of Public Health. Contact: Steve Stoddard, REHS/RS, Environmental Health Director.
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?